Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 5
IARC classification of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Group 1:
Group 2A:
Group 2B
Group 3
Not classified
by IARC
Carcinogenic
to humans
Probably carcinogenic
to humans
Possibly
carcinogenic
to humans
Not classifiable
as carcinogenic
to humans
Benzo[a]pyrene
Cyclopenta[cd]pyrene
Benz[a]anthracene
Acenaphthene
Acenaphthylene
Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene
Benzo[b]fluoranthene
Anthracene
Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene
Benzo[j]fluoranthene
Benzo[c]fluorine
Benzo[k]fluoranthene
Benzo[ghi]perylene
Chrysene
Dibenzo[a,e]pyrene
Dibenzo[a,h]pyrene
Fluoranthene
Dibenzo[a,i]pyrene
Fluorene
Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene
Pyrene
5-Methylchrysene
Phenanthrene
Naphthalene
contributing most to the total carcinogenity of the mixture is another PAH, benzo-
[a]pyrene (B[a]P), which confirms its suitability as a marker (Delgado-Saborit
2011
). Figure
5
shows (B[a]P) indoor and outdoor concentrations in different
environments in the United Kingdom. Indoor concentrations of PAHs are generally
lower than outdoor ones, bar locations away from traffic emissions, such as parks.
Maximum (B[a]P) were measured in pubs where ETS was present (4.91 ng/m
3
),
followed by traffic-affected roadsides (2.52 ng/m
3
), and homes where wood was
burned in a fireplace (2.40 ng/m
3
). The study performed by Delgado-Saborit et al.
(
2010
) highlights the importance of the exposure to PAHs mixtures, especially in
indoor environments where specific PAHs sources may be present.
INDOORS
OUTDOORS
10
1
0.1
0.01
0.001
Fig. 5 Benzo[a]pyrene geometric mean concentration values in indoor and outdoor environ-
ments (Delgado-Saborit et al.
2011
). Boxes represent range of concentration. Values below the
method detection limit (MDL) of 0.008 ng/m
3
(Delgado-Saborit et al.
2010
) were assumed to be
as MDL/2, following the US EPA criteria (US EPA
1991
)
