Air pollution from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons generated by human activities and their health effects in China

•PAH air emissions generated by human activities in China were quantified.•China's regionalized model for assessing health effects of PAHs was developed.•Nap, Phe, and Pyr were the dominant contributors to national PAH air emissions.•BaP, Flu, and DahA were the key factors affecting public health burden in China.•DNA damage and repair caused by the most dominant substances of BaP was observed.

The key factors that influence the health effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) air emissions generated by human activities in China were identified in this study by considering the emission amounts, environmental fates, exposure, and damage at the national level. Results showed that the most significant substances affecting overall human health included benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), dibenz(a,h)anthracene (DahA), and fluoranthene (Flu), which are mainly generated from aluminum production, biomass indoor burning, and bituminous coal consumption for domestic use. Approximately 10% of the BaP, DahA, and Flu emissions corresponded to over 80% of all recorded human health effects and showed significant positive linear relationships with mortality from malignant tumors, as well as with the nervous system, heart, and cerebral-vascular diseases. Increasing aluminum recycling, biomass utilization, national pipeline gas penetration rate, and national heating coverage rate are effective approaches for reducing the overall health impact generated by PAH pollution.