Environment impact and probabilistic health risks of PAHs in dusts surrounding an iron and steel enterprise

Abstract Dust can be regarded as environmental medium that indicates the level and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) coming from different pollution sources. In this study, samples including road dust, roof bare soil near an iron steel enterprise (ISE) in Laiwu city North China were collected. To assess environment impact, atmosphere particulates one flue dust a coking plant simultaneously sampled. Sixteen USEPA PAHs detected quantitatively by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). A laser particle size analyzer was used to obtain grain samples. The results showed PAH concentrations displayed great variability ∑ 16 concentration found between 0.460 46.970 μg/g (avg ± sd 10.892 1.185 μg/g) 0.670 17.140 6.751 0.692 13.990 1.203 soil. sites, value PM 2.5 constituted very large proportion 10 , indicating finer sizes should given greater emphasis. relatively high area close ISE because impact industrial activities. curves similar, most abundant individual sites BbF, BkF, Flu, Chry dusts. Toxicity analysis revealed with four rings, carcinogenic PAHs, dominant pollutants studied area. toxic equivalency (TEQ BaP ), health risk assessment recommended US EPA, calculated for seven revealing they account more than 93.0% total TEQ Bap major equivalent contributor. Incremental lifetime cancer (ILCR) estimation tended bring about risks through skin contact, followed ingestion inhalation. By comparison, exhibited may undergo heavier pollution. Therefore, study would helpful effort understand industry, which will provide some guidance probabilistic local risks.