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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric dustfall from the industrial corridor in Hubei Province, Central China

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Abstract

Thirty atmospheric dustfall samples collected from an industrial corridor in Hubei Province, central China, were analyzed for 16 USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to investigate their concentrations, spatial distributions, sources, and health risks. Total PAH concentrations (ΣPAHs) ranged from 1.72 to 13.17 µg/g and averaged 4.91 µg/g. High molecular weight (4–5 rings) PAHs averaged 59.67 % of the ΣPAHs. Individual PAH concentrations were not significantly correlated with total organic carbon, possibly due to the semi-continuous inputs from anthropogenic sources. Source identification studies suggest that the PAHs were mainly from motor vehicles and biomass/coal combustion. The incremental lifetime cancer risks associated with exposure to PAHs in the dustfall ranged from 10−4 to 10−6; these indicate potentially serious carcinogenic risks for exposed populations in the industrial corridor.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate very much the language assistance and constructive suggestions of Prof. Rich Arimoto from New Mexico State University, United States. The research was supported by the Nature Science Foundation of Hubei Province, China (2013CFC099), the Outstanding Youth Science and Technology Innovation Team Projects of Hubei Polytechnic University (13xtz07), the Talent Introduction Projects of Hubei Polytechnic University (12xjz05R), and the Open Foundation of Mine Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation of Hubei Key Laboratory (2012102).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Mine Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, China

    Jiaquan Zhang, Changlin Zhan, Yulun Xiao, Jingru Zheng & Wensheng Xiao

  2. Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, 710075, China

    Jiaquan Zhang, Junji Cao & Changlin Zhan

  3. State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Chengkai Qu, Shihua Qi & Xinli Xing

  4. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e delle Risorse, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134, Naples, Italy

    Chengkai Qu

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  1. Jiaquan Zhang
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  2. Chengkai Qu
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  3. Shihua Qi
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  7. Yulun Xiao
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  9. Wensheng Xiao
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Correspondence to Junji Cao.

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Jiaquan Zhang and Chengkai Qu are co-first authors and contributed equally.

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Zhang, J., Qu, C., Qi, S. et al. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric dustfall from the industrial corridor in Hubei Province, Central China. Environ Geochem Health 37, 891–903 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-014-9647-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-014-9647-y

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