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PM10-bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Cancer Risk Estimation in the Atmosphere Surrounding an Industrial Area of Shanghai, China

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Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants in the urban atmosphere. In particular, atmospheric pollution has increasingly become severe in China due to its rapid urbanization and industrialization. In recent years, a few studies have presented information about POPs (such as PAHs, PCBs, OCPs) in aerosols at a molecular level in a limited number of cities such as Beijing, Qingdao and Guangzhou, as well as Hong Kong. Whereas, these cities are located in northern and southern China, respectively, where characteristics of atmospheric pollution might be different from those in the eastern cities, such as Shanghai. Atmospheric particle pollution is a persistent problem in Shanghai, a typical metropolis of China, which has several huge industrial regions. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the present state, properties and sources of PAHs pollution in Shanghai, PM10 samples were collected at Coal-Fired Power Plant (CFP), Chlor-Alkali Chemical factory (CAC) and Coking and Chemical factory (CCF) in an industrial area, during the period, November 2004–September 2005. The concentrations of 16 PAHs were analyzed using the HPLC with UV visible detector. The results showed that the mean value of total PAHs in the industrial area was 64.85 ng m−3; 3-ring PAHs were found at low levels, while 4-, 5- and 6-ring PAHs were found at high levels. The levels of BaP were 3.07 and 7.16 ng m−3 at Chlor-Alkali Chemistry Factory and Coking and Chemistry Factory sites, respectively. PAHs levels exhibited distinct seasonal variation, with the highest level in autumn and the lowest in summer. The major source of PAHs at the industrial area was fossil fuel combustion, coal-burning, industrial furnaces including others. There was a very significant correlation of PAHs levels between CCF and CAC (R 2 = 0.91). The average concentration of BaP in the industrial area during the sampling period was 5.95 ng m−3. It could be concluded the local population appears to be exposed to significantly high cancer risk (exceeding 2 ng m−3 in autumn and winter) as compared to the population of other areas.

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Acknowledgments

This program was financially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2003CB415003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, People’s Republic of China

    Jinping Cheng, Tao Yuan, Qian Wu, Wenchang Zhao, Haiying Xie, Yingge Ma, Jing Ma & Wenhua Wang

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  1. Jinping Cheng
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  2. Tao Yuan
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  3. Qian Wu
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  4. Wenchang Zhao
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  5. Haiying Xie
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  6. Yingge Ma
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  7. Jing Ma
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  8. Wenhua Wang
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Correspondence to Jinping Cheng.

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Cheng, J., Yuan, T., Wu, Q. et al. PM10-bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Cancer Risk Estimation in the Atmosphere Surrounding an Industrial Area of Shanghai, China. Water Air Soil Pollut 183, 437–446 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9392-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9392-2

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