Assessing the chemical composition, potential toxicity and cancer risk of airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) near a petrochemical industrial area

Sofia Caumo; Aleinnys B Yera; Célia Alves; Ismael Casotti Rienda; Nora Kováts; Katalin Hubai; Pérola de Castro Vasconcellos

doi:10.1016/j.etap.2023.104170

Assessing the chemical composition, potential toxicity and cancer risk of airborne fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) near a petrochemical industrial area

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2023 Aug:101:104170. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104170. Epub 2023 Jun 7.

Authors

Sofia Caumo¹, Aleinnys B Yera², Célia Alves³, Ismael Casotti Rienda³, Nora Kováts⁴, Katalin Hubai⁴, Pérola de Castro Vasconcellos²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil. Electronic address: sofia.caumo@gmail.com.
² Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil.
³ Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
⁴ Centre of Natural Environmental Sciences, University of Pannonia, Egyetem str. 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary.

PMID: 37295738
DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104170

Abstract

In the vicinity of a petrochemical industrial region in São Paulo, Brazil, PM_2.5-bound organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitro-PAHs, oxy-PAHs, hopanes, and inorganic species were evaluated. Oxidative potential (OP), burden (OB), and Alivibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition (AFBIA) assays were conducted to determine the potential health effects of exposure to these compounds. The PM_2.5 mean concentration was 32.0 ± 18.2 µg m^-3, and benzo (a)pyrene was found to exceed recommended levels by at least four times. Secondary sources and vehicular emissions were indicated by nitro-PAHs, oxy-PAHs, and inorganic species. The OP and OB results revealed that secondary compounds favored antioxidant depletion. The AFBIA results showed that 64 % of the samples were toxic. These findings emphasize the need to reduce the exposure risk and take measures to protect human health.

Keywords: Cancer and non-cancer risk; Ecotoxicity; Oxidative potential; PAHs; PM(2.5).

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollutants* / toxicity
Brazil
Carbon
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Humans
Neoplasms*
Particulate Matter / analysis
Particulate Matter / toxicity
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis

Substances

Particulate Matter
Air Pollutants
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Carbon