TY - UNPB
T1 - Exploring the variations in ambient BTEX in urban Europe and its environmental health implications
AU - Liu, Xiansheng
AU - Zhang, Xun
AU - Dufresne, Marvin
AU - Wang, Tao
AU - Wu, Lijie
AU - Lara, Rosa
AU - Seco, Roger
AU - Monge, Marta
AU - Yáñez-Serrano, Ana Maria
AU - Gohy, Marie
AU - Petit, Paul
AU - Chevalier, Audrey
AU - Vagnot, Marie-Pierre
AU - Fortier, Yann
AU - Baudic, Alexia
AU - Ghersi, Véronique
AU - Gille, Grégory
AU - Lanzi, Ludovic
AU - Gros, Valérie
AU - Simon, Leila
AU - Hellen, Heidi
AU - Reimann, Stefan
AU - Bras, Zoe Le
AU - Müller, Michelle Jessy
AU - Beddows, David
AU - Hou, Siqi
AU - Shi, Zongbo
AU - Harrison, Roy M.
AU - Bloss, William
AU - Dernie, James
AU - Sauvage, Stephane
AU - Hopke, Philip K.
AU - Duan, Xiaoli
AU - An, Taicheng
AU - Lewis, Alastair
AU - Hopkins, Jim
AU - Liakakou, Eleni
AU - Mihalopoulos, Nikolaos
AU - Zhang, Xiaohu
AU - Alastuey, Andres
AU - Querol, Xavier
AU - Salameh, Thérèse
PY - 2024/7/23
Y1 - 2024/7/23
N2 - BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p,o-xylene) are significant urban air pollutants. This study examines BTEX variability across seven European countries using data from 22 monitoring sites in different urban settings (urban background, traffic, industry, and suburban background). Results indicate that the relative abundance of BTEX in urban areas follows the order: toluene > benzene > m,p-xylene > o-xylene > ethylbenzene, with mean mixing ratios of 391 ± 451, 252 ± 324, 222 ± 297, 92 ± 119, and 78 ± 107 ppt from 2017 to 2022, respectively. Seasonal trends show benzene had similar median concentrations across urban background, traffic, and industrial sites, indicating mixed sources. Toluene levels were highest in traffic and industrial areas, highlighting road traffic and industrial emissions. Ethylbenzene and xylenes showed equivalent levels in traffic and industrial areas but were lower in urban backgrounds. Peak BTEX levels occurred during morning and evening rush hours, linked to traffic, heating, and atmospheric stagnation. B/T ratios ranged from 0.29 ± 0.11 to 1.35 ± 0.95, and X/E ratios ranged from 1.75 ± 0.91 to 3.68 ± 0.30, indicating primary pollution from local traffic, followed by solvents, coatings, and biomass burning. Lifetime Cancer Risk (LCR) values for BTEX exposure were below the definite risk threshold (10−4) but above the permissible risk level (10−6), suggesting moderate risk from benzene and ethylbenzene, particularly in traffic and industrial areas. This study offers essential insights into BTEX pollution in European urban environments.
AB - BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p,o-xylene) are significant urban air pollutants. This study examines BTEX variability across seven European countries using data from 22 monitoring sites in different urban settings (urban background, traffic, industry, and suburban background). Results indicate that the relative abundance of BTEX in urban areas follows the order: toluene > benzene > m,p-xylene > o-xylene > ethylbenzene, with mean mixing ratios of 391 ± 451, 252 ± 324, 222 ± 297, 92 ± 119, and 78 ± 107 ppt from 2017 to 2022, respectively. Seasonal trends show benzene had similar median concentrations across urban background, traffic, and industrial sites, indicating mixed sources. Toluene levels were highest in traffic and industrial areas, highlighting road traffic and industrial emissions. Ethylbenzene and xylenes showed equivalent levels in traffic and industrial areas but were lower in urban backgrounds. Peak BTEX levels occurred during morning and evening rush hours, linked to traffic, heating, and atmospheric stagnation. B/T ratios ranged from 0.29 ± 0.11 to 1.35 ± 0.95, and X/E ratios ranged from 1.75 ± 0.91 to 3.68 ± 0.30, indicating primary pollution from local traffic, followed by solvents, coatings, and biomass burning. Lifetime Cancer Risk (LCR) values for BTEX exposure were below the definite risk threshold (10−4) but above the permissible risk level (10−6), suggesting moderate risk from benzene and ethylbenzene, particularly in traffic and industrial areas. This study offers essential insights into BTEX pollution in European urban environments.
U2 - 10.5194/egusphere-2024-2309
DO - 10.5194/egusphere-2024-2309
M3 - Preprint
BT - Exploring the variations in ambient BTEX in urban Europe and its environmental health implications
PB - EGUsphere
ER -