Understanding Exposure Risks of Women and Children to PAHs in Biomass Using Households of Brahmaputra Valley

Introduction: Biomass burning is a principal contributor of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the air. A vast majority of rural households in South Asia are still using crude biomass fuel in kitchens causing poor air quality. This pushes the children and women population to severe exposure risk. In this work, 14 PAHs out of 16 priority PAHs of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)-bound to Biomass Fuel Smoke Particles (BFSPs) produced during burning various crude biomass fuels in rural kitchens had been characterized. Materials and methods: Representative rural households were taken for this study. Two sets of samples were collected during dry and wet periods using filter paper by a passive collection method and analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Results: PAHs with even number of rings (2-ring and 4-ring PAHs) dominated the Biomass Fuel Smoke Particles (BFSPs). PAH contents in BFSPs of the wet period were higher than the dry period samples. Different PAH ratios differed from reported studies on ambient atmosphere particulates and test environment. Higher Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) values were found during the wet period compared to the dry period in most BFSPs. The risk via ingestion and dermal contact was about 104 to 105 magnitudes higher than the inhalation risk. Conclusion: The study reported seasonal variation of PAHs from biomass fuels and associated health risks to the exposed population. The higher levels of PAHs and the associated health risks may pose significant risks to the exposed women and children.