Characteristics and health risk-oriented source of VOCs contamination in a typical non-ferrous metal smelting plant and its surrounding area for prioritizing the VOCs control strategies

). Benzene (AHs), 1,2-dichloroethane (halogenated hydrocarbons; HHs), and 1,2-dichloropropane (HHs) were the primary contributors. Health risk-oriented source apportionment further showed that NMSP emissions contributed 50.54 % of the carcinogenic risk and 49.84 % of the non-carcinogenic risk in RA. Further prioritizing the control efficiency of AHs and HHs emissions from NMSP to over 96.1 % and 97.1 % would reduce the carcinogenic risk level by one risk category and eliminate non-carcinogenic concerns in RA. Greater emphasis should be placed on high-risk compounds, rather than solely on high-concentration compounds. This study provides critical insight for prioritizing VOC control strategies to maximize environmental and health co-benefits.