Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds with well-established negative health effects. In this study, the levels of the 16 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - PAHs were determined in air and deposited dust in different indoor environments, including schools, homes and sports halls in six metropolitan areas across Europe (Athens, Barcelona, Colchester, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Lisbon). However, naphthalene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, and dibenz[ah]anthracene were excluded from the final dataset due to analytical limitations. Results showed considerable spatial variability, suggesting that the highest median PAH concentrations (>50,000 pg/m3) in both schools and homes are linked to emissions from intensive local residential wood burning and poor ventilation, while the lowest PAH concentrations were observed in south-western Europe (<10,000 pg/m3). The levels of high-molecular weight (HMW) PAHs were generally higher in schools compared to homes likely due to greater occupancy and accumulation of outdoor-derived particles. Low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs, on the other hand, were more prominent in homes and associated with household practices (e.g., cleaning and ventilation frequency). In addition to active air sampling, indoor air concentrations were also estimated based on concentrations in the deposited dust samples. However, this methodology underestimated HMW-PAHs. The estimated Excess Cancer Risk for a 5-year primary education exposure period (ECR5) across all monitored sites ranged from 10-8 to 10-5, remaining below the unacceptable risk value of 10-4, which was used as a contextual reference within the USEPA cancer risk assessment framework. Nevertheless, these findings highlight the need for continuous proactive strategies to reduce PAH exposure and improve indoor air quality, particularly in environments occupied by children.
Maria A. Aretaki, Judith Desmet, A. Karanasiou et al.· Environmental Research· 0 citations
Air pollution, particularly particulate matter (PM), is a major driver of global morbidity and mortality, with increasing evidence linking it to neurological disorders. This study investigates the chemical composition and neurotoxic potential of PM collected simultaneously in three sites in Catalonia (Spain): Bellver de Cerdanya (rural background), Manlleu (suburban), and Mollet del Vallès (suburban-industrial). Fifty-four filter samples collected in 2022 were analyzed by GC-MS for 30 organic molecular tracers, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and levoglucosan. Extracts were tested in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells across six toxicity endpoints: cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, antioxidant response, xenobiotic response, and p53 activation (DNA damage response). Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) on the combined chemical-biological dataset resolved four components: a winter biomass burning component enriched in levoglucosan, dehydroabietic acid, and PAHs, inducing strong cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and xenobiotic responses; a traffic component present throughout the year; a spring-summer secondary organic aerosol (SOA) component associated with selective AChE inhibition without cytotoxicity; and a summer primary organic aerosol (POA) component. Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression linked PM10 composition with toxicity responses. Five of six models were statistically significant (R2CV = 0.53-0.75), with the highest performance for ROS, p53 activation, and cell death (R2CV ≥ 0.62). Biomass burning markers and PAHs were the main predictors of oxidative stress and cytotoxicity, whereas biogenic SOA tracers showed low importance. These findings link specific PM10 sources to distinct neurotoxic effects and highlight the importance of controlling winter emissions.
Esmeralda Ayala, Jordi Puigdemasa, S. Platikanov et al.· Environmental Pollution· 0 citations
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