Particle-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a representative urban location (indoor-outdoor) from South Europe: Assessment of potential sources and cancer risk to humans

PM10-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels were monitored at urban locations (outdoor/indoor) within the city of Madrid between May 2017 and April 2018. Fourteen PAH congeners were measured, potential emission sources were identified as were potential carcinogenic risks. The sigma PAHs averaged 0.577 and 0.186 ng/m(3) in outdoor and indoor air, with a high linear correlation per individual mean PAH and month. The largest contributors to the sigma PAHs were the high-molecular-weight PAHs. Principal component analysis-multiple linear regression results showed that emissions from diesel and vehicular processes explained 27% and 23% of the total variance of outdoor and indoor air, while combustion processes accounted for 30% and 25% in ambient and indoor air, respectively. During the cold season, biomass burning plus coal and wood combustion were additional sources of outdoor emissions. The heavy-, medium- and light-molecular-weight PAH originating from outdoor sources accounted for 72%, 80%, and similar to 60% of the indoor levels of the three respective PAH groups. Average BaP concentration was 0.029 and 0.016 ng/m(3) in outdoor and indoor air, respectively. Estimated BaPeq concentration averaged 0.072, 0.035, and 0.027 ng/m(3) for outdoor, indoor, and indoor-generated individual PAH concentrations, respectively. The estimated carcinogenic risk falls within the range of acceptable risk targeted by the US-EPA.