Contamination and human health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface soils from Tianjin coastal new region, China.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban soils are of increasing concern because of their potential toxicity and persistence. However, there is limited information about PAHs in Tianjin coastal new region, although it is an important economic and industrial center in Northern China. Here we determined the concentrations of PAHs in 210 surface soil samples collected from this region according to administrative divisions covering Han'gu district, Tanggu district, and Dagang district, to evaluate their contamination and potential cancer risks. The concentrations of 16 PAHs ranged from 58.2 to 9160 ng g⁻¹, and the highest concentration was found in Han'gu district. According to the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model, the soils from Han'gu district and Dagang district posed a moderate carcinogenic risk to residents, and dermal contact was the main exposure pathway. Besides, ILCRs for children through ingestion were comparable to those for adults but apparently higher than adolescents, while ILCRs of dermal contact for adults were higher than children and adolescents. Comparisons between the layout of industrial zones and the distributions of PAHs as well as ILCRs indicate that PAHs accumulating in soils and then incurring risk areas is partly controlled by the economic and industrial structure. Image 1 • PAH concentrations in soils are comparable between 2001 and 2018 in Tianjin. • Dermal contact is the chief exposure pathway for cancer risk to residents. • Children and adults are sensitive subpopulation through ingestion and dermal contact respectively. • Distributions of PAHs and cancer risk areas are closely related to the industrial structure. The distributions of PAHs and incurred cancer risk areas are closely related to the economic and industrial structure. Dermal contact is the chief exposure pathway for cancer risk to residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]