Size-dependent distribution and inhalation cancer risk of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at a typical e-waste recycling and an urban site

•Particle-bound PAHs were dominantly distributed in fine particles.•Dry and wet deposition fluxes of PAHs were size-dependent.•Accumulation mode particles contributed the most to inhalation cancer risk.•Residents living in both study sites are subject to potential health risk.

Atmospheric particle size distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a typical e-waste recycling zone and an urban site (Guangzhou) in southern China featured a unimodal peak in 0.56–1.8 μm for 4–6 ring PAHs but no obvious peak for 2–3 ring PAHs at both sites. The atmospheric deposition fluxes of PAHs were estimated at 5.4 ± 2.3 μg m−2 d−1 in the e-waste recycling zone and 3.1 ± 0.6 μg m−2 d−1 in Guangzhou. In addition, dry and wet deposition fluxes of PAHs were dominated by coarse (Dp > 1.8 μm) and fine particles (Dp < 1.8 μm), respectively. Fine particles predominated the deposition of PAHs in the lung. The results estimated by incremental inhalation cancer risk suggested that particle-bound PAHs posed serious threat to human health within the e-waste recycling zone and Guangzhou.