title: Microscale spatial distribution and health assessment of PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at nine communities in Xi'an, China.
abstract: Spatial variability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was investigated in Xi'an, China, in summer of 2013. Sixteen priority PAHs were quantified in 24-h integrated air samples collected simultaneously at nine urban and suburban communities. The total quantified PAHs mass concentrations ranged from 32.4 to 104.7 ng m-3, with an average value of 57.1 ± 23.0 ng m-3. PAHs were observed higher concentrations at suburban communities (average: 86.3 ng m-3) than at urban ones (average: 48.8 ng m-3) due to a better enforcement of the pollution control policies at the urban scale, and meanwhile the disorganized management of motor vehicles and massive building constructions in the suburbs. Elevated PAH levels were observed in the industrialized regions (west and northwest of Xi'an) from Kriging interpolation analysis. Satellite-based visual interpretations of land use were also applied for the supporting the spatial distribution of PAHs among the communities. The average benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent toxicity (Σ[BaP]eq) at the nine communities was 6.9 ± 2.2 ng m-3during the sampling period, showing a generally similar spatial distribution to PAHs levels. On average, the excess inhalation lifetime cancer risk derived from Σ[BaP]eqindicated that eight persons per million of community residents would develop cancer due to PM2.5-bound PAHs exposure in Xi'an. The great in-city spatial variability of PAHs confirmed the importance of multiple points sampling to conduct exposure health risk assessment.
authors: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Key Lab of Aerosol Chemistry & Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China; Laboratoire d'Aérologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, France.
authors: Hongmei
authors: H
authors: Xu
authors: Key Lab of Aerosol Chemistry & Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China; Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, USA.
authors: Steven Sai Hang
authors: SSH
authors: Ho
authors: Berkeley Energy and Climate Institute, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
authors: Meiling
authors: M
authors: Gao
authors: Key Lab of Aerosol Chemistry & Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China; Institute of Global Environmental Change, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China. Electronic address: cao@loess.llqg.ac.cn.
authors: Junji
authors: J
authors: Cao
authors: Laboratoire d'Aérologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, France.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Guinot
authors: JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Kin Fai
authors: KF
authors: Ho
authors: Key Lab of Aerosol Chemistry & Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Long
authors: Key Lab of Aerosol Chemistry & Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China.
authors: Jingzhi
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Zhenxing
authors: Z
authors: Shen
authors: Key Lab of Aerosol Chemistry & Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China.
authors: Suixin
authors: S
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Chunli
authors: C
authors: Zheng
authors: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Qian
authors: Q
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D000397:Air Pollution; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
keywords: Cancer risk; Health assessment; PAHs; PM(2.5); Spatial distribution