Health hazards from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bound to submicrometer particles in Gliwice (Poland)

Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Department of Air Protection, 22B Konarskiego St., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

^* Corresponding author: barbara.kozielska@polsl.pl

Abstract

Even though there is an eminent reduction of emission of pollution, there is still a serious danger to health caused by atmospheric aerosol. Studies show that particles with aerodynamic diameters not greater than 1 μm (PM1) and 2.5 μm (PM2.5) are especially dangerous as they have the ability to easily penetrate into the alveoli and then into the circulatory system. What is more, absorbed on their surface for example persistent organic compounds, among them polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) they have carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. The paper presents concentrations polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bound to submicrometer particles (PM1). Samples were collected at the point in southern Poland (Gliwice) with a low volume sampler. Afterwards, they were chemically analysed with a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (Perkin Elmer Clarus 500). The average concentration values of the PAH sum (ΣPAH) and particular PAHs; the percentages of carcinogenic PAHs in total PAHs (ΣPAH_carc/ΣPAH); toxic equivalent (CEQ); mutagenic equivalent (MEQ); TCDD-toxic equivalent (TEQ). Their high values express the significance of health hazard from PM1 and PM1-bound PAH in Silesia Region.