Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban street dust: Implications for human health

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 83; no. 7; pp. 970 - 977
• Main Authors: Lorenzi, Damien, Entwistle, Jane A., Cave, Mark, Dean, John R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Applied sciences; Dust - analysis; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Human health risk; Humans; Inhalation Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Mean daily intake; Particle Size; Pollution; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Transportation; Urban street dust; England; United Kingdom; Great Britain; World; Europe; British Isles, England; British Isles, England, Tyne and Wear, Newcastle upon Tyne; Mean daily intake; Human health risk; Urban street dust; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbon; Highway; Urban area; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Mutagen; Persistent organic pollutant; Carcinogen; Gas chromatography; Dust; Health and environment; Health hazards; Street; Exhaust gas; Sampling; Mass spectrometry; Public health; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.02.020

► sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons determined in urban street dust. ► Results compared to 22 urban sites around the world. ► Individual PAH ratios used to investigate pyrogenic and petrogenic sources. ► Potential health risk for unintentional consumption assessed in terms of a MDI. ► All 4–6 membered ring PAHs had concentrations in excess of the MDI. The determination of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban street dust has been done. Samples were collected from 12 sampling locations in a city centre location (Newcastle upon Tyne, north east England) and extracted using in situ pressurised fluid extraction followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. From the results it was possible to identify three groups, with respect to PAH concentration, with PAH contents ranging between 0.6–2.3 mg kg −1, 15.6–22.5 mg kg −1 and 36.1–46.0 mg kg −1. The total PAH content of samples from these sampling sites has been compared to 22 urban locations around the world; comparable levels were found in these samples compared to the other cities around the world. The potential source of PAHs has been investigated by investigating the proportion of pyrogenic and petrogenic material in urban street dust using specific individual PAH ratios. The results indicate that the PAH content of urban street dust from the chosen sites are more likely to be due to pyrogenic sources i.e. vehicle exhaust emissions. The particle size fractions (<63 μm; 63–125 μm; 125–250 μm; 250–500 μm; 500–1000 μm; and 1000–2000 μm) of individual PAHs in three selected sampling sites was investigated. In two of the selected sites the PAH content was independent of particle size whereas in sampling site 10 elevated PAH levels are noted in the <63 μm size fraction. Sampling site 10 is located at the junction of three road tributaries which are used as major access points to the east of the city centre. Finally, the potential health risk for unintentional consumption of PAHs was assessed in terms of a mean daily intake (based on an ingestion rate of 100 mg d −1). It was found that all 4–6 membered ring PAHs had concentrations in excess of the mean daily intake thereby reflecting a potential health risk, particularly in the smallest size particle fractions.