New insight into human health risk from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on surfaces of buildings and facilities for industrial legacy regeneration

Although many industrial heritage sites have been repurposed into attractive landscapes, the contamination and health risks from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on industrial legacy surfaces remain unexplored. We collected 441wiping surface samples from 95 buildings and facilities at Beijing coking plant in China and found that the concentrations of 16 US EPA priority PAHs (sigma(16)PAHs) ranged from ND-982.16 and ND-4262.20 mg/m(2) on the surfaces of buildings and facilities, respectively. The main source of PAHs was the coking process, and spatial distribution of PAHs was consistent with sigma(16)PAHs in the soil. The carcinogenic risks of BaP, DBA, BbF, BaA, Ind of the facilities remained as industrial heritage relics, and those of Bap, DBA and BbF in the buildings with commercial uses exceeded the acceptable level (10(-6)). The hazard quotient of 9 PAHs was below the acceptable level (1.0). The remedial goals for BaP and DBA (0.11 mg/m(2)) and BbF, BaA and Ind (1.14 mg/m(2)) at the facility heritage relics were derived. Similarly, the RGs for the buildings with commercial uses of BaP, DBA and BbF were 0.16, 0.16, and 1.64 mg/m(2), respectively. Overall, we determined that carcinogenic PAHs on the surfaces of industrial legacy should be regulated for regeneration.

Automated summary

Although many industrial heritage sites have been repurposed into attractive landscapes, the contamination and health risks from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on industrial legacy surfaces remain unexplored. Through the collection of surface samples from buildings and facilities at Beijing coking plant, it was found that these surfaces were contaminated with carcinogenic PAHs, suggesting the need for regulation and remediation.