Exposure and Risk Assessment of Pahs in Indoor Air of Waterpipe Cafes in Ardebil, Iran Publisher



Rostami R¹ ; Zarei A² ; Saranjam B³ ; Ghaffari HR⁴ ; Hazrati S³ ; Poureshg Y³ ; Fazlzadeh M^{5, 6}
Source: Building and Environment Published:2019

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to particulate matter (PM) in the indoor air of waterpipe cafes of Ardebil city, and to further assess the health risk due to exposure to PAHs. 50 out of 236 cafes were selected using systematic random sampling method and air samples were taken from standing breathing zone of smokers and employees, ∼150 cm above the ground level. The concentrations of PAHs were determined using GC-MS. The results showed that the mean indoor concentration of PAHs in the cafes was 5522.1 ± 594.8 ng/m 3 . It was 5915.2 ± 650.5, 2404 ± 271.4, and 7304.9 ± 846.0 ng/m 3 for cafes with fruit flavored tobacco, regular tobacco, and the both, respectively. The means of the hazard quotient (HQ) for PAHs in different age groups, including 11 to <16, 16 to <21, 21 and older, and the cafes employees were 0.35, 0.75, 3.65, and 18, respectively. Also, the mean of estimated cancer risk for PAHs in the aforementioned age groups and employees were 0.65 (10 −5 ), 1.31(10 −5 ), 6.43 (10 −5 ) and 31.3 (10 −5 ), respectively. The results indicated the increased health risk levels related to the inhalation of tobacco smoke due to PAHs concentrations in the waterpipe cafes. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd