Health assessment of emerging persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in PM2.5 in northern and central Taiwan

Shahzada Amani Room; Kai Ting Huang; Shih Yu Pan; Po Jui Chen; Yuam-Cheng Hsu; Kai Hsien Chi

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141573

Health assessment of emerging persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in PM_2.5 in northern and central Taiwan

Chemosphere. 2024 Apr:353:141573. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141573. Epub 2024 Feb 28.

Authors

Shahzada Amani Room¹, Kai Ting Huang¹, Shih Yu Pan¹, Po Jui Chen¹, Yuam-Cheng Hsu², Kai Hsien Chi³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan.
² National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan, 330, Taiwan.
³ Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan. Electronic address: khchi@nycu.edu.tw.

PMID: 38428532
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141573

Abstract

Over the last two decades, Taiwan has effectively diminished atmospheric concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) through the adept utilization of advanced technologies and the implementation of air pollution control devices. Despite this success, there exists a dearth of data regarding the levels of other PM_2.5-bound organic pollutants and their associated health risks. To address this gap, our study comprehensively investigates the spatial and seasonal variations, potential sources, and health risks of PCDD/Fs, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and Polychlorinated naphthalene (PCNs) in Northern and Central Taiwan. Sampling collections were conducted at three specific locations, including six municipal waste incinerators in Northern Taiwan, as well as a traffic and an industrial site in Central Taiwan. As a result, the highest mean values of PM_2.5 (20.3-39.6 μg/m³) were observed at traffic sites, followed by industrial sites (14.4-39.3 μg/m³), and the vicinity of the municipal waste incinerator (12.4-29.4 μg/m³). Additionally, PCDD/Fs and PCBs exhibited discernible seasonal fluctuations, displaying higher concentrations in winter (7.53-11.9 and 0.09-0.12 fg I-TEQ_WHO/m³) and spring (7.02-13.7 and 0.11-0.16 fg I-TEQ_WHO/m³) compared to summer and autumn. Conversely, PCNs displayed no significant seasonal variations, with peak values observed in winter (0.05-0.10 fg I-TEQ_WHO/m³) and spring (0.03-0.08 fg I-TEQ_WHO/m³). Utilizing a Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, sintering plants emerged as the predominant contributors to PCDD/Fs, constituting 77.9% of emissions. Woodchip boilers (68.3%) and municipal waste incinerators (21.0%) were identified as primary contributors to PCBs, while municipal waste incinerators (64.6%) along with a secondary copper and a copper sludge smelter (22.1%) were the principal sources of PCNs. Moreover, the study specified that individuals aged 19-70 in Northern Taiwan and those under the age of 12 years in Central Taiwan were found to have a significantly higher cancer risk, with values ranging from 9.26 x 10^-9-1.12 x 10^-7 and from 2.50 x 10^-8-2.08 x 10^-7respectively.

Keywords: Health risk; PCBs; PCDD/Fs; PCNs; Taiwan.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Copper
Dibenzofurans
Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated / analysis
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
Incineration
Particulate Matter
Persistent Organic Pollutants
Polychlorinated Biphenyls* / analysis
Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins* / analysis
Taiwan

Substances

Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Persistent Organic Pollutants
Air Pollutants
Dibenzofurans
Copper
Particulate Matter
Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated