Personal exposure monitoring to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bound to size-segregated aerosol

Air pollution is a global problem, where impaired air quality significantly damages human health and the environment. Twenty-four hours of personal exposure to size-segregated airborne particulate matter (PM) and associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in 129 non-smoking residents living in two Czech cities, Ostrava (an industrial area with high levels of air pollution) and Ceske Budejovice (an agricultural area with lower air pollution level) in various seasons between years 2018–2020. Particulate matter (PM) was sampled by cascade impactors based on their aerodynamic diameter (dae, μm) and divided into size fractions: coarse (2.5 < dae), fine (0.25 < dae < 2.5) and ultrafine (<0.25). Size distributions of 20 priority PAHs adsorbed on these PM fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry in electron ionization (GC-EI-MS/MS). The total concentration of ∑20PAHs to which residents were exposed ranged from 0.09 ng/m3 to 47.18 ng/m3. A higher level of PAHs was detected in Ostrava (mean: 5.59 ng/m3) than in Ceske Budejovice (mean: 1.96 ng/m3). Statistically significant concentration differences between PAHs in individual seasons were observed in both sampled localities, with higher concentrations measured in winter than in summer. Fine and ultrafine particles predominated in the mass composition of the particulate matter. The ultrafine particle size contained 67–80% of total PAHs. Respiratory health risk was estimated based on inhalation cancer risk (ICR). Cancer risk attributable to personal inhalation exposure ranged from 2.8 × 10−8 to 4.3 × 10−4. In winter, higher cancer risk were found in Ostrava, mainly caused by a high concentration of carcinogenic PAHs bound to ultrafine particles. Overall, the personal monitoring data confirmed a higher air pollution burden in the industrial area and the winter season and highlighted the importance of focusing on ultrafine particles as the main carriers of potentially mutagenic and carcinogenic substances, such as PAHs. In addition, personal monitoring data provided more detailed and accurate information on individual-level exposures, revealing significant differences in exposure concentrations in people living in the same area.