Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban street dust within three land-uses of Babylon governorate, Iraq: Distribution, sources, and health risk assessment

Abstract

This study is considered to be the first investigation of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in terms of distribution and sources identification for three land-use in Babylon governorate, Iraq. Potential sources of 16 US EPA priority PAHs were identified by employing diagnostic ratio as well as principal component analysis (PCA) method. Additionally, Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) model was determined in order to assess the risk exposure to the individual PAHs in street dust (SD). Findings in three land-use indicated that the total sixteen PAHs concentrations in the samples were 555.9, 1388, 1221.8 µg Kg−1 for Residential Area, Industrial Area, and Commercial area, respectively, with an average of 1055 µg Kg−1. Moreover, study findings pointed out that the percentages of both LMW and HMW (included MMW) in the street dust were accounted for 38.3% and 61.7% of the total PAHs, respectively. Two components are founded in the PCA with HMW accounted for 75.8% of the total PAHs, and PAHs LMW contributed 24.2% of the total PAHs. Ratios results in nutshell indicated the predominance of pyrogenic source for sixteen PAHs. This suggested by possible sources such as the emission from vehicles, regular gas and fuel combustion activities, as well as coal and wood, were the major cause of 16 principal PAHs in SD samples in all three land-use in Babylon governorate. Results from ILCR model stated that total cancer risk for both targeted individuals exposed to SD in all land-use is more than 10-4 that is referred to increase potential health risk. The PAHs contamination in Babylon governorate needs urgently to be addressed on priority. Moreover, this work is beneficial for Babylon governorate to utilize it as a benchmark for future research.

Keywords

• PAHs contamination
• Street dust
• PAHs sources
• ILCR