Seasonality, atmospheric transport and inhalation risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM2.5 and PM10 from industrial belts of Odisha, India

This study is the first attempt to assess the presence of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) enlisted by the US Environmental Protection Agency in PM2.5 and PM10 from industrial areas of Odisha State, India. During 2017-2018, bimonthly sampling of PM10 and PM2.5 was carried out for 24 h in the industrial and mining areas of Jharsuguda and Angul in Odisha during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post monsoon seasons. Highest mean concentration of n-ary sumation (16)PAHs in PM2.5 was observed during the post monsoon (170 ng/m(3)) period followed by pre-monsoon (48 ng/m(3)) and monsoon (16 ng/m (3)) periods, respectively. A similar trend of n-ary sumation (16)PAHs was also observed in PM10 with higher levels observed during post monsoon (286 ng/m(3)) followed by pre-monsoon (81 ng/m(3)) and monsoon (27 ng/m(3)) seasons. Diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis suggested diesel, gasoline and coal combustion as the major contributors of atmospheric PAH pollution in Odisha. Back trajectory analysis revealed that PAH concentration was affected majorly by air masses originating from the northwest direction traversing through central India. Toxic equivalents ranged between 0.24 and 94.13 ng TEQ/m(3). In our study, the incremental lifetime cancer risk ranged between 10(-5) and 10(-3), representing potential cancer risk.

Automated summary

This study assessed the presence of 16 priority PAHs in PM2.5 and PM10 in industrial areas of Odisha State, India, finding that atmospheric PAH pollution primarily comes from diesel, gasoline, and coal combustion. Pollution levels are influenced by wind direction, with potential cancer risk indicated by the incremental lifetime cancer risk ranging from 10(-5) to 10(-3).