US EPA

8407027 

Book/Book Chapter 

Risk assessment of airborne particles and volatile organic compounds from industrial areas 

Mueller, A; Wichmann, G; Massolo, L; Porta, A; Schlink, U; Ronco, A; Herbarth, O 

2009 

Nova Science Publishers, Inc. 

Leipzig, Germany 

Industrial Pollution including Oil Spills 

101-144 

English 

Particulate matter (PM) and bound chemicals like polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOC) in air are potential mediators for adverse health effects. The presented study includes a determination of exposure to VOC, determination of PM and thereon bound PAHs as well as investigations of mutagenic, cytotoxic and immunomodulating effects of PM in three regions in La Plata (Argentina), influenced either by industrial or traffic emissions, and in a control area. La Plata was selected as an example for the influence of industrial emission since Argentina's main oil refinery is located nearby. Following sampling using high volume collectors with cascade impactors to separate six size fractions of PM (from 10 to less than 0.49 μm) PM-absorbed compounds were hexane-extracted. Additionally, 28 different VOC (aromatics, alcanes, terpenes, and halocarbons) were collected by passive sampling and analyzed for typical fingerprints. For an assessment of toxicity and mutagenicity, extracts of PM were tested for mutagenicity (AMES-test: Salmonella typhimurium TA 98/S9+) and cytotoxicity (Tetrahymena pyriformis). In addition, cell respiration and ATP production of T. pyriformis were determined as parameters for oxidative stress and immunomodulatory effects on human leukocytes were analyzed. For risk assessment, the lifetime cancer risk (LCR) was calculated for PAHs using the concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and BaP equivalents as well as for VOC by concentration of benzene. Highest total PAH concentrations were found in the industrial area. The size distribution of particles demonstrates the greater relevance of smaller particles since more than 50 % of PAHs were absorbed to particles <0.49m. The highest mutagenic potency and cytotoxicity as well as immunomodulatory effects were also associated with particles <0.49 μm. These effects correlated with PAH concentrations especially of high condensed PAHs with 4 and 5 rings. Investigations of the cell respiration showed an uncoupling of the respiratory chain by extracts of fine particles. Regarding the VOC concentration a dominance of alkanes and aromatic compounds was observed, even though a different chemical distribution was seen. In the industrial area significant higher concentrations of hexane, heptane and benzene occurred. According to the higher concentration of benzene and BaP also the highest level for LCR was estimated for the industrial area compared to the others. Due to the complexity of effects related to the different exposure scenarios, both, exposure analyses and an effect assessment by various bioassays allowed us to estimate the risk of industrial air pollution. © 2009 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.