Characterization and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in particulate matter in rural residential environments in China-A review

In recent years, air pollution in rural residential environments in China has received significant attention, with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution being particularly important which is associated with various health problems. Although some studies have investigated indoor air pollution in rural China, a comprehensive exploration of PAHs pollution has not been completed. Therefore, this study screened peer-reviewed Chinese and English articles on PAHs in indoor particulate matter in rural China published between January 1, 2010, and September 30, 2022, and retrieved a total of 2010 papers. After selection criteria, 24 papers were ultimately chosen for data extraction and comprehensive analysis. The results showed that the level of PAHs pollution in rural residential environments in China was 1408.27±1888.85 ng/m3 (62.17∼6606.53 ng/m3). The kitchen was the most severely polluted area in households, with pollution levels highest in the spring and winter. The use of clean energy to replace traditional solid fuels can significantly reduce PAH emissions, but most households still use a mixture of fuels, and the level of PAH pollution remains high. It is worth emphasizing that the cancer risk assessment indicated that rural Chinese residents' total incremental lifetime cancer risk (TILCR) was greater than 10−4, indicating a high risk of cancer. This study provides accurate information on the current status of PAHs pollution in indoor particulate matter in rural China, which will serve as a solid foundation for future prevention and control efforts.