Health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) adsorbed in PM 2.5 and PM 10 in a region of Arequipa, Peru

The concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 , as well as those of the PAHs bound to these particles, were quantified at four sites in the region of Arequipa, Peru, during the year 2018. These samples were collected with high volume samplers, and the concentrations of the PAHs were quantified by liquid chromatography (HPLC). The values found for PM 2.5 and PM 10 at all the sampling sites in Arequipa exceeded the norms established in Peru (50 μg m −3 annual average value for PM 10 and 25 μg m −3 annual average value for PM 2.5 ), with the industrial site presenting the highest values of particulate matter (PM 10 max = 235.1 μg m −3 ; PM 2.5 max = 218.4 μg m −3 ). With respect to seasonality, in the cold season (winter), the concentration of particles was higher compared to the other seasons. Concerning the PAHs, it was found that these had the highest concentrations at the industrial site, followed by the site with high vehicular traffic, with both these sites differing significantly from the rural sites. In addition, at the industrial and high traffic sites, there was a predominance of PAHs with 5 and 6 rings, whereas at the rural sites, PAHs with fewer rings predominated. Finally, the calculated values of lifetime lung cancer risk also revealed a difference between sites with marked emission sources, where irrigation was considered moderate, and the rural sites, where irrigation was considered low. This demonstrated that people living at sites with mobile sources and/or industries had a higher cancer risk compared to the inhabitants of rural sites.