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Tsiodra I, Tavernaraki K, Grivas G, Parinos C, Papoutsidaki K, Paraskevopoulou D, Liakakou E, Gogou A, Bougiatioti A, Gerasopoulos E, Kanakidou M, Mihalopoulos N. Spatiotemporal Gradients of PAH Concentrations in Greek Cities and Associated Exposure Impacts. TOXICS 2024; 12:293. [PMID: 38668516 PMCID: PMC11055022 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12040293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
To study the spatiotemporal variability of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and assess their carcinogenic potential in six contrasting urban environments in Greece, a total of 305 filter samples were collected and analyzed. Sampling sites included a variety of urban background, traffic (Athens, Ioannina and Heraklion), rural (Xanthi) and near-port locations (Piraeus and Volos). When considering the sum of 16 U.S. EPA priority PAHs, as well as that of the six EU-proposed members, average concentrations observed across locations during summer varied moderately (0.4-2.2 ng m-3) and independently of the population of each site, with the highest values observed in the areas of Piraeus and Volos that are affected by port and industrial activities. Winter levels were significantly higher and more spatially variable compared to summer, with the seasonal enhancement ranging from 7 times in Piraeus to 98 times in Ioannina, indicating the large impact of PAH emissions from residential wood burning. Regarding benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), an IARC Group 1 carcinogen and the only EU-regulated PAH, the winter/summer ratios were 24-33 in Athens, Volos, Heraklion and Xanthi; 60 in Piraeus; and 480 in Ioannina, which is afflicted by severe wood-burning pollution events. An excellent correlation was observed between organic carbon (OC) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) during the cold period at all urban sites (r2 > 0.8) with stable BaP/OC slopes (0.09-0.14 × 10-3), highlighting the potential use of OC as a proxy for the estimation of BaP in winter conditions. The identified spatiotemporal contrasts, which were explored for the first time for PAHs at such a scale in the Eastern Mediterranean, provide important insights into sources and controlling atmospheric conditions and reveal large deviations in exposure risks among cities that raise the issue of environmental injustice on a national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irini Tsiodra
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, Greece; (I.T.); (K.T.); (G.G.); (D.P.); (E.L.); (E.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Kalliopi Tavernaraki
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, Greece; (I.T.); (K.T.); (G.G.); (D.P.); (E.L.); (E.G.); (N.M.)
- Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (K.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Georgios Grivas
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, Greece; (I.T.); (K.T.); (G.G.); (D.P.); (E.L.); (E.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Constantine Parinos
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece; (C.P.); (A.G.)
| | - Kyriaki Papoutsidaki
- Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (K.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Despina Paraskevopoulou
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, Greece; (I.T.); (K.T.); (G.G.); (D.P.); (E.L.); (E.G.); (N.M.)
- Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (K.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Eleni Liakakou
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, Greece; (I.T.); (K.T.); (G.G.); (D.P.); (E.L.); (E.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Alexandra Gogou
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece; (C.P.); (A.G.)
| | - Aikaterini Bougiatioti
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, Greece; (I.T.); (K.T.); (G.G.); (D.P.); (E.L.); (E.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Evangelos Gerasopoulos
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, Greece; (I.T.); (K.T.); (G.G.); (D.P.); (E.L.); (E.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Maria Kanakidou
- Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (K.P.); (M.K.)
- Center for Studies of Air Quality and Climate Change, Institute for Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, 26504 Patras, Greece
- Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Mihalopoulos
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, Greece; (I.T.); (K.T.); (G.G.); (D.P.); (E.L.); (E.G.); (N.M.)
- Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (K.P.); (M.K.)
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Orif MI, El-Shahawi MS, Ismail IMI, Rushdi A, Alshemmari H, El-Sayed MA. An extensive assessment on the distribution pattern of organic contaminants in the aerosols samples in the Middle East. OPEN CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/chem-2022-0260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Nowadays, in spite of a significant progress in indoor air quality (IAQ), an assessable and predictive understanding of atmospheric aerosol sources, chemical composition, transformation processes, and environmental effects are still rather incomplete and therefore signifies a key research challenge in the atmospheric science. Thus, the current comprehensive review is concerned with the dominant sources, organic compositions, and potential health impacts of the organic contaminants in the atmospheric particle matters (PMs) in the Middle East (ME). The ME contributes a major impact of organic contaminants on the atmosphere along with other Asian and African countries. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the communities are noted for being the center of the great majority of the world’s oil reserves and infrastructure for producing crude oil. The review starts with a historical outlook on the scientific queries regarding major source of organic contaminants to the atmospheric aerosols over the past centuries, followed by an explanation of the distribution, sources, transformation processes, and chemical and physical properties as they are formerly assumed. Natural product chemicals from biota, manufactured organic compounds including pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and lubricants, as well as organic compounds from the use and combustion of fossil fuels make up the aerosol contamination. Thus, in the recent years, IAQ may be seen as a significant health issue because of the increase in industrial activity. Fugitive emissions from industrial processes, as well as natural and anthropogenic emissions from other sources such as forest fires, volcanic eruptions, incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, wood, agricultural waste, or leaves, are typical sources of organic pollutants to the aerosol. In the spring and early summer in the GCC countries, aerosol concentration increases because of dust storms; however, in winter, there are fewer dust storms and higher precipitation rates, and aerosol concentrations are lower. Significances of future research and major suggestions are also outlined to narrow the gap between the present understanding of the contribution of both anthropogenic and biogenic aerosols to radiative forcing, resulting from the spatial nonuniformity, intermittency of sources, unresolved composition, and reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed I. Orif
- Department of Marine Chemistry, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University , P.O. Box 80207 , Jeddah 21589 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad S. El-Shahawi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University , P.O. Box 80207 , Jeddah 21589 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Iqbal M. I. Ismail
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University , P.O. Box 80207 , Jeddah 21589 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Rushdi
- Department of Marine Chemistry, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University , P.O. Box 80207 , Jeddah 21589 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Hassan Alshemmari
- Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research , P.O. Box: 24885 , Safat 13109 , State of Kuwait
| | - Mohammed A. El-Sayed
- Department of Marine Chemistry, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University , P.O. Box 80207 , Jeddah 21589 , Saudi Arabia
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Shams Solari M, Ashrafi K, Pardakhti A, Hassanvand MS, Arhami M. Meteorological dependence, source identification, and carcinogenic risk assessment of PM 2.5-bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in high-traffic roadside, urban background, and remote suburban area. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2022; 20:813-826. [PMID: 36406605 PMCID: PMC9672248 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-022-00821-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to ambient fine Particular Matter (PM2.5) are currently drawing a lot of attention due to their adverse health effects increasing lung cancer risk in humans. In this study, The PM2.5 samples were collected by high volume air samplers simultaneously from three different sites (high-traffic roadside, urban background, and remote suburban) in Tehran, Iran during warm and cold seasons (from July 2018 to March 2019), and 16 PAHs were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Unlike previous studies, a remote suburban area was chosen so as to observe the spatial differentiation in PM2.5-bound PAH characteristics. In high-traffic roadside site, the average concentration of total PM2.5-bound PAHs (ƩPAHs) was 3.7 times the concentration value in remote suburban area. Average (ƩPAHs) ranged from 5.54 ng/m3 for remote suburban area to 20.67 ng/m3 for high-traffic roadside site. In all sites, seasonal trends of PAH concentrations elucidated high concentrations in the cold season and low concentrations in the warm season. Correlation analysis between ƩPAHs and atmospheric factors (meteorology parameters and criteria air pollutants) indicated the heterogeneous processes play an important role in the level of PAHs. The results of diagnostic ratio (DR) analysis disclosed that the dominant source of PM2.5-bound PAHs was the combustion of liquid fossil fuels. Despite the fact that incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) via inhaling PM2.5-bound PAHs varied significantly in high-traffic roadside site and remote suburban site, its value was beyond the acceptable risk level in both sites. Our results suggested that effective regulations are needed to monitor PAHs concentrations and reduce PAHs emissions from liquid fossil fuel combustion so as to mitigate the potential carcinogenic risk of PAHs in ambient air. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-022-00821-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Shams Solari
- Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, 15 Ghods St, Enghelab Ave, Tehran, 14155-6135 Iran
| | - Khosro Ashrafi
- Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, 15 Ghods St, Enghelab Ave, Tehran, 14155-6135 Iran
| | - Alireza Pardakhti
- Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, 15 Ghods St, Enghelab Ave, Tehran, 14155-6135 Iran
| | - Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand
- Center for Air Pollution Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Arhami
- Department of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
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Faridi S, Yousefian F, Roostaei V, Harrison RM, Azimi F, Niazi S, Naddafi K, Momeniha F, Malkawi M, Moh'd Safi HA, Rad MK, Hassanvand MS. Source apportionment, identification and characterization, and emission inventory of ambient particulate matter in 22 Eastern Mediterranean Region countries: A systematic review and recommendations for good practice. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 310:119889. [PMID: 35932896 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the main sources of ambient particulate matter (PM) in the 22 Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries. We designed this study to systematically review all published and unpublished source apportionment (SA), identification and characterization studies as well as emission inventories in the EMR. Of 440 articles identified, 82 (11 emission inventory ones) met our inclusion criteria for final analyses. Of 22 EMR countries, Iran with 30 articles had the highest number of studies on source specific PM followed by Pakistan (n = 15 articles) and Saudi Arabia (n = 8 papers). By contrast, there were no studies in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Approximately 72% of studies (51) were published within a span of 2015-2021.48 studies identified the sources of PM2.5 and its constituents. Positive matrix factorization (PMF), principal component analysis (PCA) and chemical mass balance (CMB) were the most common approaches to identify the source contributions of ambient PM. Both secondary aerosols and dust, with 12-51% and 8-80% (33% and 30% for all EMR countries, on average) had the greatest contributions in ambient PM2.5. The remaining sources for ambient PM2.5, including mixed sources (traffic, industry and residential (TIR)), traffic, industries, biomass burning, and sea salt were in the range of approximately 4-69%, 4-49%, 1-53%, 7-25% and 3-29%, respectively. For PM10, the most dominant source was dust with 7-95% (49% for all EMR countries, on average). The limited number of SA studies in the EMR countries (one study per approximately 9.6 million people) in comparison to Europe and North America (1 study per 4.3 and 2.1 million people respectively) can be augmented by future studies that will provide a better understanding of emission sources in the urban environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasan Faridi
- Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Yousefian
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Vahid Roostaei
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Roy M Harrison
- School of Geography Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faramarz Azimi
- Environmental Health Research Center, School of Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Sadegh Niazi
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kazem Naddafi
- Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Momeniha
- Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mazen Malkawi
- Environmental Health Exposures Centre for Environmental Health Action (CEHA), World Health Organization (WHO), Jordan
| | - Heba Adel Moh'd Safi
- Environmental Health Exposures Centre for Environmental Health Action (CEHA), World Health Organization (WHO), Jordan
| | - Mona Khaleghy Rad
- Environmental Health Exposures Centre for Environmental Health Action (CEHA), World Health Organization (WHO), Jordan
| | - Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand
- Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Mahdad F, Bakhtiari AR, Moeinaddini M, Charlesworth S. Seasonal occurrence, source apportionment, and cancer risk assessment of PAHs in the second largest international holy metropolitan: Mashhad, Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:13279-13291. [PMID: 34585348 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16336-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Street dust resuspension is one of the main sources of particulate matter with impacts on air quality, health, and climate. This research was aimed to determine the concentration, source, and health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in street dust of Mashhad city. To this end, USEPA-regulated 16 PAHs were measured in 84 dust samples using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The source of Σ16PAHs was identified using diagnostic ratios (DRs), positive matrix factorization (PMF), and principal component analysis (PCA). The measured Σ16PAHs demonstrated different spatial concentrations (from 1,005 to 9,138.96 μg kg-1) and showed higher levels in summer (1,206.21-9,138.96 μg kg-1), although 4-ring PAHs exhibited maximum levels in both summer and winter. The findings revealed that the dust-deposited PAHs are predominantly emitted through combustion of fossil fuels (such as diesel and gasoline) and natural gas. The total incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was assessed by considering three possible exposure routes separately for children and adults and calculated carcinogenic risk values of 2.24E-06 and 2.14E-06, respectively. ILCR is above the baseline value (1.0E-06) for children and adults in both seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Mahdad
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Alireza Riyahi Bakhtiari
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran.
- Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mazaher Moeinaddini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
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Lv L, Chen Y, Han Y, Cui M, Wei P, Zheng M, Hu J. High-time-resolution PM 2.5 source apportionment based on multi-model with organic tracers in Beijing during haze episodes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 772:144766. [PMID: 33578162 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a prominent atmospheric pollutant that poses serious adverse effects on air quality and human health. PM2.5 source apportionment based on receptor model suggests that Beijing is polluted by mixed emission sources, but the model is limited by a lack of organic tracers and an inability to distinguish between contributions from local and regional transport. In this study, positive matrix factorization (PMF) model with organic tracers was employed to analyze refined PM2.5 pollution sources at 1-h time resolution, and the contribution of regional transport was quantified using Particulate source apportionment technology (PSAT) in the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx). The results identified nine source types using PMF model based on offline data for PM2.5 concentrations, organic carbon, elemental carbon, water-soluble ions, trace elements and organic species. Gasoline and diesel exhausts were distinguished by adding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), C19-C24 n-alkanes as key organic tracers. In addition, levoglucosan and hexadecanoic acid are important additions for identifying biomass burning and cooking, respectively. Furthermore, the contribution of specific sources and source regions, from the formation to dissipation of two typical haze episodes (EP1 and EP2) in Beijing, was quantitatively analyzed. EP1 was primarily caused by local emissions with an average contribution rate of 67.5%, characterized by secondary source, gasoline and diesel exhausts, as well as industrial source. EP2 was dominated by secondary source from regional transport contributing approximately 50%. Short-range transport from Baoding (9.1%) and Langfang (5.8%) in Hebei Province was the largest external contributor, and long-range transport contributed 20% of the PM2.5 concentration. This study suggests that combining receptor model-based source apportionment with air quality model has practical significance for understanding the causes of haze episodes, setting city-specific emission reduction measures and improving air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Lv
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Yingjun Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
| | - Yong Han
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, PR China
| | - Min Cui
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
| | - Peng Wei
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Mei Zheng
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Jingnan Hu
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China.
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Iakovides M, Iakovides G, Stephanou EG. Atmospheric particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, n-alkanes, hopanes, steranes and trace metals: PM 2.5 source identification, individual and cumulative multi-pathway lifetime cancer risk assessment in the urban environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 752:141834. [PMID: 33207492 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of atmospheric fine particles (PM2.5)-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), trace metals and organic molecular markers was investigated by conducting an intensive sampling campaign at the Eastern Mediterranean urban area of Nicosia (Cyprus). Sixty-two 24-hr PM2.5 samples were collected and analyzed for fifty parent and alkylated PAHs, twenty-five long chain n-alkanes, seventeen hopanes and twelve steranes used for source apportionment. The same number and kind of samples were analyzed to determine twenty-eight trace metals. Emphasis was given to investigate the air levels of the scarcely monitored although highly carcinogenic PAHs such as dibenzopyrenes, dibenzoanthracenes, 7H-benzo[c]fluorene and 5-methyl-chrysene, not included in the USEPA's sixteen PAH priority list (USEPA-16). UNMIX receptor model was applied to apportion the sources of atmospheric emissions of the determined organic compounds and trace metals and evaluate their daily contributions to the corresponding PM2.5 associated concentrations. For comparison purposes, principal component analysis with multiple linear regression (PCA/MLR) was also applied and its results are reported. The UNMIX receptor model, compared to PCA/MLR, offered a more precise source profile and more reliable daily mass source distributions by eliminating negative contributions. The individual and cumulative multi-pathway lifetime cancer risk (posed via inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact) by exposure to PM2.5-associated USEPA-16 listed and non-listed PAHs and selected airborne trace metals (As, Cd, Co, Ni, and Pb) were assessed. To estimate the contribution of each emission source to the total cancer risk, multiple linear regression analysis was performed, using as independent variables the daily source mass contributions and as dependent variables the respective cancer risk units. The estimated total cumulative cancer risk comprising all toxic PAHs, besides those included in the priority list, and metals was higher than the USEPA's threshold by a factor of eight, denoting a potential risk for long-term exposure of a population in the urban environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minas Iakovides
- The Cyprus Institute, Konstantinou Kavafi 20, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Giannis Iakovides
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Crete, Voutes Campus, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Euripides G Stephanou
- The Cyprus Institute, Konstantinou Kavafi 20, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus; Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Voutes Campus, 70013 Heraklion, Greece.
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Garaga R, Gokhale S, Kota SH. Source apportionment of size-segregated atmospheric particles and the influence of particles deposition in the human respiratory tract in rural and urban locations of north-east India. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 255:126980. [PMID: 32387729 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Aerosol samples were collected using eight stage non-viable Andersen cascade impactor at three urban and two rural sites in north-east India during 2018 covering three seasons i.e., winter, summer and monsoon. The size-segregated samples collected in the selected locations were carefully analysed in terms of deposition in human respiratory tract using inhalation and deposition curves. Seasonal variation of fractional deposition of particulate matter (PM) in human respiratory tract was observed. For example, during winter, in one of the urban sites i.e., S3 (0.61) the maximum deposition was in Pulmonary (P) region, while in the case of other sites, the maximum deposition was in Nasopharyngeal (NOPL) region. Regional deposition in P was high in S1 and S3 when compared with other sites. Vehicular emissions was dominant in both S1 and S3 in P, while biomass burning being dominant in S3 which could be the reason for maximum deposition in P. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) revealed five to eight factors at each individual site in NOPL, tracheobronchial (TB) and P regions: biomass burning (accounting for 7-32% of PM), coal combustion (14-27%), construction dust (9-25%), dust emissions (17-28%), industrial emissions (12-26%), oil refinery (18%), secondary aerosols (17-33%) and vehicular emissions (12-39%). Dominant sources in urban and rural areas were vehicular emissions and dust emissions, respectively. Therefore, the present study highlights the importance of analyzing source apportionment of PM at ultrafine scale and forms a basis upon which the future air quality studies and mitigation strategies can be formulated in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajyalakshmi Garaga
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India.
| | - Sharad Gokhale
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India.
| | - Sri Harsha Kota
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India.
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Kaushal D, Bamotra S, Yadav S, Tandon A. Aerosol-associated n-alkanes over Dhauladhar region of North-Western Himalaya: seasonal variations in sources and processes. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2020; 192:517. [PMID: 32666386 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08483-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Particulate n-alkanes are major constituents of organic aerosols (OA). Being primary in origin, chemically stable and thus long-lived, n-alkanes retains source signatures and along with diagnostic parameters have extensively been used to identify source(s) of OA. Systematic, yearlong study was carried out in the Dhauladhar region of North-Western Himalaya (NWH) to investigate dynamics in the composition and concentration of aerosol-associated n-alkanes. PM10 samples were collected for 24 h, once every week, at an urban mid-altitude location (Dharamshala) and a rural low-altitude site (Pohara). Particulate bound n-alkanes were identified and quantified using thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-GCMS). Annual mean concentrations of total n-alkanes (TNA) were 211 ± 99 ng m-3 and 223 ± 83 ng m-3, while mass fractions of TNA in PM10 were 4410 ± 1759 ppm and 3622 ± 1243 ppm at Dharamshala and Pohara, respectively. At both sites, a slight dominance of odd carbon-numbered n-alkanes was noticed. The TNA concentration and associated diagnostic parameters indicated unique source profiles at rural and urban locations. Significant seasonal variations were attributed to the contrasting land-use settings and meteorological variations. Influence of petrogenic contributions at urban location and predominance of biogenic contributions at rural location were observed in spring and autumn seasons. Preliminary insights on sources of organic aerosols are presented here. The diagnostic parameters allowed apportionment of biogenic and petrogenic sources. Biogenic emissions from agricultural practices viz. harvesting and threshing were predominant in the rural settings, while tourism-led anthropogenic contributions significantly add to petrogenic contributions in urban environment of the NWH region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Kaushal
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala, Kangra, 176215, India
| | - Sarita Bamotra
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala, Kangra, 176215, India
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jammu, Bagla (Rahya Suchani), Samba, Jammu, (J&K), 181143, India
| | - Shweta Yadav
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jammu, Bagla (Rahya Suchani), Samba, Jammu, (J&K), 181143, India.
| | - Ankit Tandon
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala, Kangra, 176215, India.
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10
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Zauner G, Girardi G. Potential causes of male and female infertility in Qatar. J Reprod Immunol 2020; 141:103173. [PMID: 32652349 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2020.103173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A steady decline in the fertility rate has been observed in Qatar during the past fifty years. Therefore, infertility is considered a national priority in Qatar, a pronatalist society. This review article summarises the potential causes of infertility that are particularly prevalent in the Qatari population. The high rate of consanguinity leading to genetic abnormalities, the high incidence of metabolic disease, environmental contamination due to the rapid urbanization and oil and natural gas extraction procedures are discussed. In addition, the particular lifestyle of the Qatari population and the influence of religion and culture on sexual and reproductive behavior in an Arab/Islamic society are considered. The active response of the state of Qatar in implementing ways to mitigate the effects of these factors to protect fertility are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhild Zauner
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Guillermina Girardi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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11
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Zhao Y, Feng L, Wang Y, Shang B, Li J, Han P. Study on Pollution Characterization and Source Apportionment of Daytime and Nighttime PM 2.5 Samples in an Urban Residential Community in Different Weather Conditions. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2020; 104:673-681. [PMID: 32189016 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-020-02828-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Daytime and nighttime PM2.5 samples were collected from an urban community in Tianjin. The major chemical components in PM2.5, including metal elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and inorganic water-soluble ions, were monitored. A positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was used to apportion the potential sources of PM2.5 under different weather conditions. When the Air Quality Index (AQI) was below 200, the concentrations of BaA, BbF, BkF, Na and NO3- during the nighttime were higher than those during the daytime. PMF analysis indicated that secondary aerosols (37.3%), biomass burning (26.7%) and coal combustion (26.0%) were important sources of PM2.5 in the urban residential community when the AQI was greater than 200. When the AQI was less than 200 in the urban residential community, the main sources of PM2.5 in the urban residential community were secondary aerosols (50.7%) and fossil fuel combustion (47.2%). The pollution status of PM2.5 in the residential community of the urban area was serious, and the source apportionments of the PM2.5 samples in the urban area were different under different weather conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhao
- Department of Environmental and Health, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, 300011, China.
| | - Lihong Feng
- Department of Environmental and Health, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, 300011, China
| | - Yuwen Wang
- Department of Environmental and Health, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, 300011, China
| | - Bodong Shang
- Department of Environmental and Health, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, 300011, China
| | - Jianping Li
- Department of Environmental and Health, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, 300011, China
| | - Penghao Han
- Department of Monitoring, Heping Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, 300070, China
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