Risk assessment of inhalation exposure to Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and Dioxin-like PCBs in Ambient Air, Thailand

Abstract

Abstract In order to assess the situation of air quality of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and Dioxin-like PCBs (Dl-PCBs) with a total of 29 isomers and their risk assessment were estimated from two hundred ambient air samples in Thailand since 2018–2022. A monitoring program was carried out in Mega-city, industrial area, landfill sites, haze pollution areas, industrial estate areas and National parks that would represent a clean area. The total concentrations of PCDD/Fs and Dioxin-like PCBs in Bangkok area ranged from 0.011–0.17 pg-TEQ/m3 and average total concentration was 0.059 pg-TEQ/m3. The calculation of Daily Inhalation Dose (DID) at an old industrial estate (Bangpoo) for adults weighing about 55–80 kg ranged from 0.12–0.19 pg-TEQ kg− 1day− 1 and the DID in children with ages less than 6 years old ranged from 0.060–0.090 pg-TEQ .kg− 1day− 1. The concentrations of PCDD/Fs detected at Bangpoo industrial estate was about ten times higher than Bangkok area. The estimated level of Cancer Risk (CR) or Carcinogenic Risk at Bangpoo industrial estate area and Bangkok area were 2.5 E-04 and 2.6 E-06 respectively. The data were analysed T-test as appropriate and statistical significance (two-sample assuming equal and unequal variances) was defined as p < 0.05.