Carcinogenic Content of PM10-Bound PAHs in University Classrooms and Outdoors at an Urban Location in Rome, Italy, during Winter Working and Not-Working Days

To assess the contribution of carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air, EU Directive 2004/107/EC indicates to monitor relevant carcinogenic PAHs in PM10 fraction other than benzo(a)pyrene at a limited number of measurement sites. This indication refers to outdoor environments, and the environmental air quality being taken as a reference also for indoors, it can be extended to indoor environments. In this work, the contribution of carcinogenic PAHs bound to PM10 has been evaluated in winter in two classrooms of a University campus in Rome with the aim of studying the relationship with the outdoors and with working activity. PM10-boundPAHs were monitored over five different periods selected to distinguish Weekend from daytime and nighttime Weekdays, separated into two parts of the week. Data aggregated over Weekend and Weekdays allowed calculating of the concentration of carcinogenic PAHs, the mass contribution to PM10, the Infiltration Factor, the indoor to outdoor Ratio, and the Total Carcinogenic Potency by Toxicity Equivalent Factors, for “not-working” and “working” days. In addition, some indications on contributions to the source have been obtained from the chemical profile normalized to the maximum value of concentration, which also provides the source fingerprint compound. Indoor PAH concentrations were lower than outdoor, and both accumulated as the week progressed. Although the two indoor environments were on the same floor and had a similar volume, they presented different contribution to PM10 and infiltration capacity, both higher during Weekend than on Weekdays. The analysis of indoor and outdoor chemical profiles normalized to the maximum concentration indicated an external source infiltrating the indoors environment. During Weekdays, the indoor fingerprint compound changed compared to that observed during Weekend, probably due to an additional contribution of local “fresh-traffic” source. The calculation of Total Carcinogenic Potency gave indoor values always lower than outdoor, confirming in the two classrooms different dynamics for carcinogenic PAHs. Moreover, the Total Carcinogenic Potency on Weekdays was twice that of Weekend, meaning a higher toxicological impact when urban “fresh-traffic” source is added. The present study shows that the dynamics of PM10-related carcinogenic PAHs can be different within adjacent classrooms of a building and during working and not-working days. This evidence suggests the possibility of a potential different impact on occupant exposure to be taken into account in planning monitoring programs of indoor pollution.