Using deterministic and probabilistic approaches to assess the human health risk assessment of 7 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract Due to the extensive use of fossil fuels in the Bohai Rim region (BRR) in China, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution is severe. Seven carcinogenic PAHs (PAH7) with a moderate to high carcinogenicity in regard to human health were studied in the BRR. Severe PAH7 pollution was observed in indoor and outdoor atmospheric particulate matter (69.59 and 63.59 ng/m3, respectively) and outdoor soil (508.41 ng/g). Among the various media, B[b,k]F contributed the most to the initial PAH concentration (10.08–62.54%), while BaP and DahA, with a toxic equivalency factor (TEF) of 1.0, were the main compounds in terms of the toxic equivalent concentration of PAHs (53.71–83.00%). The incremental lifetime carcinogenic risks (ILCRs) of PAH7 for various population groups of different ages and sexes in the BRR were assessed based on a multimedia multipathway exposure model using deterministic and probabilistic methods. Additionally, exposure parameters conforming to local characteristics were considered in ILCR assessment. There were no significant differences in the total ILCR (ILCRstotal) between males and females in the results of the two methods. However, the ILCRstotal value of reasonable maximum exposure (RME) (the level protecting more than 95% of the general population) for adults (1.47 × 10−4-1.56 × 10−4) was higher than the upper limit of the acceptable carcinogenic risk (10−4) and significantly higher than that for teenagers, children, and toddlers (3.47 × 10−5-3.81 × 10−5) (p