Characterization and health risk assessment of particulate bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor and outdoor atmosphere of Central East India

The selected 16 high-priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were characterized in PM2.5 in the indoor and outdoor air samples collected at the urban slum and rural sites in the Central East India. At the urban slum site, the indoor and outdoor concentrations of PAHs were 466.03 +/- 11.94 ng/m(3) and 321.71 +/- 34.87 ng/m(3), respectively. At the rural location, the indoor and outdoor concentrations were 294.85 +/- 20.53 ng/m(3) and 241.74 +/- 29.04 ng/m(3), respectively. Three-four and five-ring PAHs were found to be dominant in both urban slum and rural sites. Diagnostic ratio (DR) analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) conclude that diesel exhaust, gasoline, biomass, and coal combustion were the significant sources of 16 PAHs in indoor and outdoor environments, the urban slum and rural sites. Lifetime average daily dose (LADD) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values were calculated for health risk assessment for 6-year-old children and 24-year-old adults. The ELCR values in the urban slum site and the rural location were calculated 43.24 x 10(-6) and 28.3 x 10(-6). The ELCR values were observed between the acceptable limit 10(-6)-10(-4) given by regulatory agency USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency (1989).

Automated summary

The study found that the selected 16 high-priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the air of urban slums and rural areas mainly came from diesel exhaust, gasoline, biomass, and coal combustion. The pollution of three to five-ring PAHs was more serious in these areas, posing potential health risks to children and adults.