Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban street dust: sources and health risk assessment

Urban street dust samples from 49 sampling sites in Xuzhou (China) were collected and analyzed for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The organic matter and total carbon contents were also determined. The results showed that total PAHs concentrations varied from 2174 to 24,499 ng/g with a mean value of 6616 ng/g, organic matter content varied from 3.1 to 8.7% with a mean value of 5.8%, total carbon content varied from 13.2 to 24.2%, with a mean value of 19.9%. Total carbon content was found to show a significant correlation with total PAHs concentration, but such a relationship with total PAHs concentration was only weakly identified for organic matter content. Source Apportionment Techniques indicated pyrogenic sources were the main source of PAHs in urban street dust. The total incremental lifetime cancer risk, including dermal contact, ingestion and inhalation exposure pathways, was estimated to be 4.12 × 10^-6 and 3.98 × 10^-6 for children and adults, respectively.