Spatiotemporal distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons close to a typical medical waste incinerator
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
hydrocarbons (PAHs) especially from incinerators occur
subtly, and PAH contribution from this source is
underestimated. However, as environmental PAH concentrations
build up, this may be a serious concern around the incinerator
vicinity due to the potential consequences of PAHs
on ecosystems and human health. Thus, the contribution of
selected (12) PAHs from the Obafemi Awolowo University
Teaching Hospital medical waste incinerator (or source,
HWI_0) was determined by sampling stack gas and ambient
air around incinerator vicinity from June 2014 to May 2015.
Results showed that the 12 PAH source (HWI_0) concentrations
were in the range of NA (for phenanthrene, pyrene,
anthracene, benz[e]acephenanthrylene, and indeno[2,1-
b]chromene) to 10.9 ng/m3 (pyrelene) and generally higher
than the receptor points (hospital waste incinerators
(HWIs)). The average total PAH concentrations per month at
HWI_0 and the receptors—HWI_1, HWI_2, HWI_3,HWI_4
and HWI_5—were 73.0 ± 27.9, 60.4 ± 30.8, 42.5 ± 23.6,
38.7 ± 21.9, 35.0 ± 27.2, and 39.2 ± 22.9 ng/m3, respectively.
These results and multivariate receptor model analysis indicated
high correlations between source PAH contributions and
the receptor points. The PAH concentrations in the dry season
were higher than the wet season suggesting that hydrological
condition affects ambient PAH concentrations. The average
PAH concentrations in the HWIs as well as the cumulative
exposure concentrations observed throughout the period are
of major health concern because PAH concentrations detected
are several times higher than both the European Union standard
and the WHO guideline level.
Description
Keywords
Environmental pollution, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Nigeria, Medical waste, Incinerator