Influence of sugarcane burning on indoor/outdoor PAH air pollution in Brazil

This work presents the influence of sugarcane burning on PAH levels and their profiles at a residence located in Araraquara (SP, Brazil), a city surrounded by sugarcane plantations. The average concentrations of total PAHs (ΣPAHs) associated with atmospheric particulate matter were higher during the burning period (ΣPAHs 22.9 ng m−3) than in the non-burning period (ΣPAH 2.35 ng m−3). A comparison of our results with previous studies regarding PAH levels and their profiles in Araraquara outdoor air indicated that sugarcane burning was the main PAH air source in the indoor harvesting season samples. The benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaPeq) was used for cancer risk assessment, and higher average values were obtained in the harvesting season air samples (1.7 ng m−3) than in the non-harvesting air samples (0.07 ng m−3). These findings suggest that sugarcane burning during the harvesting season can represent a public health risk in affected cities.

► In Brazil, sugarcane burning has been identified as a source of PAHs in indoor air.
► Outdoor and indoor PAH air profiles are similar during the sugarcane harvesting season.
► ∑PAH was about ten times higher during the harvest versus the non-harvesting season.
► An increase of cancer risk for people living in residences affected by sugarcane burning pollution was suggested.