Screening analysis and fine-scale spatial health risks assessment of phenols and PAHs in soils surrounding the coking industry.

The atmospheric pollutants polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) and phenols emitted by the coking industrial area (CIA) have seriously polluted the surrounding soil. Therefore, localized soil screening levels (SSLs) around CIA in Shanxi Province were derived and used for the assessment of soil health risk and groundwater pollution risk. Meanwhile fine-scale spatial probabilistic health risk assessment (PHRA) was conducted based on localized parameters. The results indicated that children under the age of 12 are at a significantly higher carcinogenic exposure risk. The concentration of phenol emitted by CIA into the surrounding soil via atmospheric deposition is higher than those of PAHs, posing a threat to groundwater quality. Groundwater conservation-based SSLs derived from wastewater discharge standards can be used to evaluate the potential pollution of phenols on groundwater. The highest risk for phenol and p-cresol was found to be located within the range of 0.9-1.3 km and 200°-260°, while for PAHs it was within 0.9 km and 90°-200°, neither in line with the prevailing wind direction or areas of high wind speed. BaP, the only substance with an acceptable carcinogenic risk, was primarily concentrated within 0.9 km and 145°-200°. Fine-scale spatial PHRA provides a more accurate understanding of the diverse risk distributions and offer reliable support for precise risk management strategies.