Exploring the variations in ambient BTEX in urban Europe and its environmental health implications

X. Liu; X. Zhang; M. Dufresne; T. Wang; L. Wu; R. Lara; R. Seco¬†; M. Monge; A. M. Yáñez-Serrano; M. Gohy; P. Petit; A. Chevalier; M.-P. Vagnot; Y. Fortier; A. Baudic; V. Ghersi; G. Gille; L. Lanzi; V. Gros; L. Simon; H. Hellen; S. Reimann; Z. L. Bras; M. J. Müller; D. Beddows; S. Hou; Z. Shi; R. M. Harrison; W. Bloss; J. Dernie; S. Sauvage; P. K. Hopke; X. Duan; T. An; A. Lewis; J. Hopkins; E. Liakakou; N. Mihalopoulos; X. Zhang; A. Alastuey; X. Querol; T. Salameh

doi:10.5194/egusphere-2024-2309

Exploring the variations in ambient BTEX in urban Europe and its environmental health implications

X. Liu, X. Zhang, M. Dufresne, T. Wang, L. Wu, R. Lara, R. Seco¬†, M. Monge, A. M. Yáñez-Serrano, M. Gohy, P. Petit, A. Chevalier, M.-P. Vagnot, Y. Fortier, A. Baudic, V. Ghersi, G. Gille, L. Lanzi, V. Gros, L. SimonH. Hellen, S. Reimann, Z. L. Bras, M. J. Müller, D. Beddows, S. Hou, Z. Shi, R. M. Harrison, W. Bloss, J. Dernie, S. Sauvage, P. K. Hopke, X. Duan, T. An, A. Lewis, J. Hopkins, E. Liakakou, N. Mihalopoulos, X. Zhang, A. Alastuey, X. Querol, T. Salameh

Chemistry

Research output: Working paper › Preprint

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages	1-19
Number of pages	19
Volume	2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2309
Publication status	Published - 31 Jul 2024

Publication series

Name	EGUsphere

Access to Document

10.5194/egusphere-2024-2309Licence: CC BY

https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2024/egusphere-2024-2309/

Cite this

Liu, X., Zhang, X., Dufresne, M., Wang, T., Wu, L., Lara, R., Seco¬†, R., Monge, M., Yáñez-Serrano, A. M., Gohy, M., Petit, P., Chevalier, A., Vagnot, M.-P., Fortier, Y., Baudic, A., Ghersi, V., Gille, G., Lanzi, L., Gros, V., ... Salameh, T. (2024). Exploring the variations in ambient BTEX in urban Europe and its environmental health implications. (pp. 1-19). (EGUsphere). https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2309

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abstract = "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.",

author = "X. Liu and X. Zhang and M. Dufresne and T. Wang and L. Wu and R. Lara and R. Seco¬† and M. Monge and Y{\'a}{\~n}ez-Serrano, {A. M.} and M. Gohy and P. Petit and A. Chevalier and M.-P. Vagnot and Y. Fortier and A. Baudic and V. Ghersi and G. Gille and L. Lanzi and V. Gros and L. Simon and H. Hellen and S. Reimann and Bras, {Z. L.} and M{\"u}ller, {M. J.} and D. Beddows and S. Hou and Z. Shi and Harrison, {R. M.} and W. Bloss and J. Dernie and S. Sauvage and Hopke, {P. K.} and X. Duan and T. An and A. Lewis and J. Hopkins and E. Liakakou and N. Mihalopoulos and X. Zhang and A. Alastuey and X. Querol and T. Salameh",

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Liu, X, Zhang, X, Dufresne, M, Wang, T, Wu, L, Lara, R, Seco¬†, R, Monge, M, Yáñez-Serrano, AM, Gohy, M, Petit, P, Chevalier, A, Vagnot, M-P, Fortier, Y, Baudic, A, Ghersi, V, Gille, G, Lanzi, L, Gros, V, Simon, L, Hellen, H, Reimann, S, Bras, ZL, Müller, MJ, Beddows, D, Hou, S, Shi, Z, Harrison, RM, Bloss, W, Dernie, J, Sauvage, S, Hopke, PK, Duan, X, An, T, Lewis, A, Hopkins, J, Liakakou, E, Mihalopoulos, N, Zhang, X, Alastuey, A, Querol, X & Salameh, T 2024 'Exploring the variations in ambient BTEX in urban Europe and its environmental health implications' EGUsphere, pp. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2309

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T1 - Exploring the variations in ambient BTEX in urban Europe and its environmental health implications

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AU - Dufresne, M.

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AU - Wu, L.

AU - Lara, R.

AU - Seco¬†, R.

AU - Monge, M.

AU - Yáñez-Serrano, A. M.

AU - Gohy, M.

AU - Petit, P.

AU - Chevalier, A.

AU - Vagnot, M.-P.

AU - Fortier, Y.

AU - Baudic, A.

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AU - Gille, G.

AU - Lanzi, L.

AU - Gros, V.

AU - Simon, L.

AU - Hellen, H.

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AU - Bras, Z. L.

AU - Müller, M. J.

AU - Beddows, D.

AU - Hou, S.

AU - Shi, Z.

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AU - Bloss, W.

AU - Dernie, J.

AU - Sauvage, S.

AU - Hopke, P. K.

AU - Duan, X.

AU - An, T.

AU - Lewis, A.

AU - Hopkins, J.

AU - Liakakou, E.

AU - Mihalopoulos, N.

AU - Zhang, X.

AU - Alastuey, A.

AU - Querol, X.

AU - Salameh, T.

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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.

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