Quantitative assessment of human health risk posed by PAHs in urban road dust

What is it about?

The primary aim of the study was to develop a quantitative model to assess the cancer risk from PAHs in urban road dust based on traffic and land use factors. It is important to note that although PAHs can be generated from various other sources such as long term atmospheric transportation of PAHs associated with black carbon, the scope of this research study was focused on the influence of traffic and land use in the creation of potential health risk from the generation of PAHs. This is because traffic and land use activities are among the most common anthropogenic activities in the urban environment. which generate PAHs.

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Why is it important?

Among the numerous pollutants present in urban road dust, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most toxic chemical pollutants and can pose cancer risk to humans. The study outcomes highlighted the fact that cancer risk fromPAHs in urban road dust is primarily influenced by PAHs associated with fine solids. Heavy PAHswith 5 to 6 benzene rings, especially dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (D[a]A) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in the mixture contribute most to the risk. The quantitative model developed based on traffic and land use factors will contribute to informed decision making in relation to the management of risk posed by PAHs in urban road dust.

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