Sources and health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during haze days in eastern China: A 1-year case study in Nanjing City

- Incremental lifetime cancer risk of PAHs in gaseous phase is considered to be harmful to health during the haze days.
- PAHs in suspended particles fall on surface of edible vegetables via a gravitational deposition.
- PAHs in dustfall can be absorbed by vegetables, causing the risk of dietary intake.

The concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air were investigated for a 1-year period to assess their sources and health risks during haze days in Nanjing City, eastern China. The highest level of total PAHs (∑16 PAHs) in the gaseous phase during the haze days was 18.0±13.3 µg/m3. Their sources may be attributable to pyrogenic products (55.2%), petrochemical refining industry (8.7%), and petrol volatilization (36.1%). The incremental lifetime cancer risk during the haze days exceeded or was close to the priority level of risk (10−4), indicating that PAH pollution during the haze days has caused public health problems associated with the respiratory system. The priority PAHs in the particle phase are mainly composed of low-ring components (<4 rings), accounting for 65.2-96.8% of the ∑16 PAHs during haze days. These particles are derived from petroleum hydrocarbons (16.5%), incomplete combustion of gasoline (62.2%), and burning of coal and biomass (21.4%). The priority level of risk fell within an acceptable range (10−7-10−6). The PAHs in suspended particles can be transported to the surfaces of vegetables by gravitational deposition, causing an increase in PAH concentrations in vegetable leaves. The increased carcinogenic risk associated with human dietary intake was 6.9×10−5 for S. oleracea, 1.7×10−5 for B. pekinensis, and 6.2×10−6 for B. chinensis. These levels were close to the critical value (10−4), and the potential health risks from dietary intake of PAHs should be prioritized.