title: Size-distribution of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other organic source markers in the surroundings of a cement plant powered with alternative fuels.
abstract: The distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and molecular tracer organic compounds for biomass combustion, traffic emissions, soil dust, and secondary aerosol processing have been studied in three fractions of ambient air particulate matter (PM10, 2.5, and 1) collected in the vicinity of a cement plant. PAH concentrations were used to estimate the carcinogenic risks in humans. Combustion related compounds, including PAHs, and those from secondary aerosol processing, predominated in the finest (PM<1) fraction, while saccharides related to organic soil dust predominated in the coarse fraction (2.5<PM<10). The molecular markers of biomass combustion were found in high concentrations, indicating the influence of biomass burning on PM. Most predominant PAHs were five and six rings species, related to a PAH profile characteristic of urban-industrial environments. The concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene varied between 0.2 and 1.0ng/m(3), which is close but lower than the annual limit value of 1ng/m(3) established by law. Exposure and inhalation carcinogenic risks from total PAHs were below the EPA threshold of acceptable risk (1·10(-6)).
authors: Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Sánchez-Soberón
authors: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, CSIC, Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Barend L
authors: BL
authors: van Drooge
authors: Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain; Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Joaquim
authors: J
authors: Rovira
authors: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, CSIC, Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Joan O
authors: JO
authors: Grimalt
authors: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Martí
authors: M
authors: Nadal
authors: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: José L
authors: JL
authors: Domingo
authors: Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: marta.schuhmacher@urv.cat.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Schuhmacher
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D056804:Biofuels; D060389:Construction Industry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D056804:Biofuels; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
keywords: Cement; Human health risk; Particulate matter; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons