Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and black carbon concentrations and sources in primary schools and homes in a changing Mediterranean urban environment
Indoor air quality at schools and homes is a concern for children's health. This study assessed the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and equivalent black carbon (eBC) in indoor and outdoor environments and investigated their possible sources. Samplings were conducted at...
| Autores: | , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:digitalcsic_::b5656580bf500560a8bfd60f7487c15f |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/429550 https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105035638478 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | PAH Children's exposure eBC Indoor air quality Organic aerosol http://metadata.un.org/sdg/17 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/3 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/6 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/11 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/12 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development |
| Sumario: | Indoor air quality at schools and homes is a concern for children's health. This study assessed the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and equivalent black carbon (eBC) in indoor and outdoor environments and investigated their possible sources. Samplings were conducted at five primary schools and seven homes in urban Barcelona (Spain) during cold and warm seasons, along with a rural school located 130 km from the city. Air gas and particles were collected in SPE cartridges connected to low-volume samplers for PAH analysis by GC-MS/MS. PM<inf>2.5</inf> filter samples were also collected for organic carbon and organic molecular tracer analysis, and continuous eBC concentrations were monitored with portable aethalometers. Time integrated samples showed higher total PAH levels indoors (12.8 ± 7.9 ng/m<sup>3</sup>) than outdoors (6.9 ± 2.9 ng/m<sup>3</sup>), largely due to volatile PAHs from indoor activities at homes. In contrast, the less volatile and more hazardous PAHs were strongly correlated with eBC. The average eBC indoor-outdoor concentration ratio of 1.1 ± 0.4 indicated traffic as dominant contributor to indoor eBC and less volatile PAHs in the urban areas, whereas biomass burning was a major source at the rural site. These sources contributed largely to PAHs, eBC and organic matter identified in indoor samples, followed by dust inputs and cooking activities. The PAH and eBC levels observed in this study are lower than those reported in Barcelona a decade ago, suggesting a positive impact of the city's traffic-related air pollution mitigation measures, which may have improved outdoor air and benefited indoor environments. |
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