title: Preliminary analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air particles (PM10) in Amritsar, India: sources, apportionment, and possible risk implications to humans.
abstract: Preliminary analysis was performed to assess human health risks of exposure to 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by way of inhalation by children and adults living in urban area of Amritsar, Punjab, India. In particular, the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA's) 16 priority PAH compounds were analyzed in air particulate matter (PM10) from different geographical locations by high-volume air sampler. Sum concentrations of PAHs (37-274 ng m(-3)) were comparable with those of other cities in India as well many cities on a global scale. Pyrene, naphthalene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, fluoranthene, fluorene, and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene accounted for >80% of ∑16PAH concentrations. Furthermore, the contribution of seven carcinogenic PAHs accounted for 12% of ∑16PAHs. The estimated carcinogenicity of PAHs in terms of benzo(a)pyrene toxic equivalency (BaPTEQ) was assessed and confirmed that dibenzo(a,h)anthracene was the dominant PAH contributor (88.7%) followed by benzo(a)pyrene (6.67%). Homolog pattern and diagnostic ratios of PAHs suggested that mixed pyrogenic sources--including biomass burning, coal combustion, and petrogenic sources, such as vehicular emissions--are dominant PAH sources in Amritsar. Health risk of adults and children by way of PAHs was assessed by estimating the lifetime average daily dose (LADD) and corresponding incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) using USEPA guidelines. The assessed cancer risk (ILCR) was found to be within the acceptable range (10(-6)-10(-4)).
authors.affiliation: Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Simerpreet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Kurunthachalam
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Senthilkumar
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Bhupander
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Jatinder Kaur
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Katnoria
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002947:Cities; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons