Assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in ambient air and its health risk evaluation in an urban city, Bangalore, India

Abstract

In recent years, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment have gained scientific interest because of their persistent nature, widespread occurrence, and the potential threats they pose to humans and the environment. Urban populations are exposed to PCBs through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption of particles present in the air. The present study aimed to evaluate the gaseous and particulate PCB concentrations present in the ambient air based on various seasons and locations and to evaluate the health risks associated with PCBs in urban areas of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. A total of 180 (each PUF and filter paper) samples were collected for the analysis of PCBs in ambient air. PCBs in filter paper and polyurethane foam (PUF) were extracted by ultra-sonication and soxhlet extraction methods, respectively, and analyzed using GC-MS/MS. The maximum mean ∑₁₀PCBs concentration was observed in industrial areas (3.11 ng/m³) and the minimum concentration in rural areas (0.44 ng/m³). Similarly, among the different seasons monitored, the maximum values were observed in the summer season (2.04 ng/m³) and the minimum was in the monsoon season (1.53 ng/m³). The USEPA exposure risk model was used to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of population exposure to PCBs. The current finding indicates that the carcinogenic risk from ∑₁₀PCBs through inhalation exposure was lower than the permissible limit (1.0E-04) for the urban population. The population residing near industrial, traffic, commercial, and residential areas has a slightly high carcinogenic risk through inhalation exposure and dermal contact. This study demonstrated that Inhalation is the primary route of atmospheric PCB exposure, leading to an increased carcinogenic risk for urban population. Therefore, to alleviate the situation and safeguard humans, further continuous monitoring of other toxic contaminants and investigations of biomarkers are highly recommended.