Monitoring of carcinogenic PAHs in air under mild-warm ambient temperatures: relative importance of vapour- and particulate-phase analyses in assessing exposure and risk

• Published in: International journal of environmental analytical chemistry Vol. 83; no. 11; pp. 897 - 908
• Main Authors: Menichini, Edoardo, Monfredini, Fabio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.11.2003
• Subjects: Carcinogenic risk assessment; Phase distribution; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polyurethane foam; Italy, Roma; Europe
• ISSN: 0306-7319; 1029-0397
• DOI: 10.1080/03067310310001621060

Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are often determined by collecting only the particulate phase. The aim of this study was to ascertain in the field to what extent not collecting the vapour phase may affect the exposure assessment and the risk assessment for carcinogenic PAHs, under ambient temperatures typical of Southern Europe. PM 10 24-h samples were collected in Rome every two months throughout one year on a filter backed by two polyurethane foam sections. Daily mean temperatures during sampling reached 31°C, with hourly maximum values up to 36°C. While four-ring PAHs were found in the vapour phase to a large extent, the calculated annual means of five-ring PAHs, including benzo[a]pyrene, were not affected significantly by the amounts collected as vapour phase. By using the "toxicity equivalence factor" approach, the carcinogenic risk overall attributable to particle-bound PAHs accounted for at least 97% of the risk attributable to total (particulate + vapour phase) PAHs.