Exploring the characteristics and source-attributed health risks associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metal elements in atmospheric PM during warm and cold periods in the northern metropolitan area of Taiwan.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metal elements are commonly considered hazardous air pollutants due to their toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic properties. However, few studies have simultaneously examined their potential sources and health effects. This study aimed to quantify the PAHs and metal elements in atmospheric PM, investigating their characteristics and potential sources to assess associated health risks in the northern metropolitan area of Taiwan. The measurements indicated that the mean concentrations of total PAHs and metal elements in PM were 0.97 ± 0.52 ng m and 590 ± 200 ng m, respectively. Utilizing the positive matrix factorization profiles, the PAH pollution was classified into two sources: industrial emissions, traffic emissions, and coal combustion (69%) were the predominant sources of PAHs, with petroleum volatilization and biomass burning (31%) making a lesser contribution. Similarly, we traced metal elements to three potential sources: natural sources (48%), a combined source of industrial emissions, coal combustion, and traffic exhaust (32%), and a blend of non-exhaust emissions from traffic and waste incineration sources (20%). Results from the potential source contribution function model suggested that the emissions of PAHs and metals could be influenced by the eastern regions of China, although local sources, including waste incinerators, traffic, shipping, and harbor activities, were identified as the primary contributors. Source-attributed excess cancer risk revealed that industry, traffic, and coal combustion had the highest cancer risk posed by PAHs in the cold period (1.0 × 10), while the greatest cancer risk among metal elements was linked to non-exhaust emissions from traffic and waste incineration emissions (2.0 × 10). This research underscores the importance of considering source contributions to health risk and emission reduction when addressing PM pollution. These findings have direct implications for policymakers, providing them with valuable insights to develop strategies that protect public health from the detrimental effects of PAH and metal element exposure.