Features and health perspectives on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in vacuum cleaner bag dust

Abstract

Reusable vacuum cleaner bags can contain harmful pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) linked to dust. This work reports on the concentrations, source identification, and human health effects of PAH species found in vacuum cleaner bag dust collected at different sites in Khorramabad, Iran. The highest mean concentrations +/- (SD) of PAHs were in the range of 12.1 +/- 1.6 ppb to 24.3 +/- 1.9 ppb. The distribution characteristics of PAH species (in terms of ring numbers) was 4 rings >3 rings >5 rings >2 rings. Risk severities from PAH exposure ranged from very low to moderate across different age groups. People under the age of 21 years are particularly affected by exposure to PAHs. The mean lifetime cancer risks (LTCRs) of PAHs in dust collected on both mesh at all locations by 3 pathways (inhalation, ingestion and dermal) suggest that the inhalation pathway posed the lowest health effects to the inhabitants of various age groups compared to the dermal and ingestion pathways. Whilst PAH concentrations are a significant and major factor, they are not the sole determinant of LTCR for the three pathways. Other factors, such as body weight (BW), air inhalation rate (IR), dermal absorption factor (DAF), exposure frequency (EF), also play important roles to various degrees. Tactics should be implemented to reduce pollutants and mitigate the health effects of PAHs by using personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks and gloves while handling, emptying and disposing reusable vacuum cleaner bags.