Department of Environmental Technology Management, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, 13060, Safat, Kuwait; Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, H9X 3V9.
Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Technological Studies, P.O. Box 42325, Shuwaikh, 70654, Kuwait.
Environ Pollut. 2020 Nov;266(Pt 3):115054. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115054. Epub 2020 Jun 29.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a byproduct of combustion processes. They are common pollutants in oil-producing countries because fossil fuel processing generates PAHs that associate with dust. Airborne particles containing PAHs are transported into houses during dust storms, which are common in the arid oil-producing countries, and consequently the children and adults in the household are exposed to PAHs in indoor house dust. The goal of this study was to present a systematic survey of PAHs in indoor house dust in Kuwait. The PAHs concentrations and composition of indoor house dust was determined, along with their probable source and the potential carcinogenic risks. Total PAHs concentrations (ƩPAH) were, on average (±standard deviation) 1112 ± 347 μg/kg and ranged from 450 to 2242 μg/kg. Heavier congeners (4-6 ring PAHs) represented 61% of the ƩPAH. Petroleum combustion and traffic emissions were the major source of PAHs, based on the isomeric ratios of PAHs in indoor house dust. The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCRs) of exposure to PAHs in indoor house dust was 2.23 × 10 (95% CI: 1.99 × 10 - 2.48 × 10) for children and 2.15 × 10 (95% CI: 1.94 × 10 - 2.37 × 10) for adults, exceeding the US EPA safe limit of 1 × 10. Therefore, exposure to PAHs present in indoor house dust increases the cancer risk for children and adults in Kuwait.
多环芳烃（PAHs）是燃烧过程的副产品。它们是产油国常见的污染物，因为化石燃料加工会产生与灰尘结合的 PAHs。含有 PAHs 的空气悬浮颗粒会在沙尘暴期间被带入房屋，而沙尘暴在干旱的产油国很常见，因此，家庭中的儿童和成人都会接触到室内灰尘中的 PAHs。本研究的目的是对科威特室内灰尘中的 PAHs 进行系统调查。确定了室内灰尘中 PAHs 的浓度和组成，以及它们的可能来源和潜在致癌风险。室内灰尘中总 PAHs（ΣPAH）的浓度平均值（±标准差）为 1112±347μg/kg，范围为 450-2242μg/kg。较重的同系物（4-6 环 PAHs）占 ΣPAH 的 61%。根据室内灰尘中 PAHs 的异构体比值，石油燃烧和交通排放是 PAHs 的主要来源。室内灰尘中 PAHs 暴露的终身增量癌症风险（ILCR）对于儿童为 2.23×10（95%CI：1.99×10-2.48×10），对于成人为 2.15×10（95%CI：1.94×10-2.37×10），超过了美国环保署的安全限值 1×10。因此，室内灰尘中 PAHs 的暴露会增加科威特儿童和成人的癌症风险。
