Pollution levels and health risk assessment of particulate phthalic acid esters in arid urban areas

Özet

The pollution levels and health risks of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in atmospheric particulates in a typicalarid urban area of China were studied and discussed in this paper. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCeMS) was used to analyze the PAE concentrations at seven sites in Changji City during allfour seasons. The results indicated that total PAE in atmospheric particulates ranged from 40 to388 ng m3 in 2014. The PAE concentrations also showed significant seasonal variation with relativelyhigher values in summer and autumn (191 and 319 ng m3) than in spring and winter (70 and55 ng m3). Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found as predominantcompounds in PAEs accounting for ca. 90% of the total. Evidence confirms that factors includinganthropogenic activities and total suspended particulate matter concentration (TSP) influenced thespatial distribution of phthalates in the atmosphere. The non-cancer and cancer risks assessment of PAEsusing U.S. EPA method showed that the respective values were <1 for the former, and <106 for thelatter; therefore, both of them were within the acceptable level and met the international guidelines. Thestudy here establishes a baseline for future monitoring and management of these contaminants in aridarea.