@article{fdi:010087579,
  title = {{H}ydrocarbons in the atmospheric gas phase of a coastal city in {T}unisia : {L}evels, gas-particle partitioning, and health risk assessment},
  author = {{B}arhoumi, {B}. and {G}uigue, {C}atherine and {T}ouil, {S}. {F}. and {J}ohnson-{R}estrepo, {B}. and {D}riss, {M}. {R}. and {T}edetti, {M}arc},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{M}any studies have focused on aliphatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ({AH}s and {PAH}s) in different environmental compartments, especially atmospheric particles (aerosols), due to their adverse effects on the environment and human health. {H}owever, much less information is currently available on the content of {AH}s and {PAH}s in the atmospheric gas phase, which is a major reservoir of volatile and photoreactive compounds. {H}ere, for the first time, we assessed the levels, gas-particle partitioning, human health risks and seasonal variations of {AH}s and {PAH}s in the atmospheric gas-phase of {B}izerte city ({T}unisia, {N}orth {A}frica) over a one-year period ({M}arch 2015-{J}anuary 2016). sigma 34{PAH} concentration in the gas phase over the period ranged from 6.7 to 90.6 ng m-3 and on average was 2.5 times higher in the cold season than in the warm season. sigma 28{AH} concentration in the gas phase over the period ranged from 14.0 to 35.9 ng m-3, with no clear seasonal variations. {I}n the gas phase, hydrocarbons were dominated by lowmolecular-weight ({LMW}) compounds, i.e. 3- and 4-ring for {PAH}s and < n-{C}24 for {AH}s. {G}as-phase concentrations of {PAH}s and {AH}s accounted for up to 80 % of the total (gas + particle phases) atmospheric concentrations of {PAH}s and {AH}s. {F}urther analysis of gas-particle partitioning showed that {LMW} hydrocarbons preferential accumulated in the gas phase, and that gas-particle partitioning was not in equilibrium but dominated by absorption processes into the aerosol organic matter. {B}enzo[a]pyrene toxic equivalency quotient ({B}a{P}-{TEQ}) in the gas phase represented on average 37 % of the total atmospheric {B}a{P}-{TEQ} concentration, which was always higher in the cold season. {A}tmospheric gas is a significant factor in the risks of cancer associated with inhalation of ambient air. {T}he {M}onte {C}arlo simulation -based exposure assessment model predicted that outdoor air exposure to {PAH}s does not pose a cancer risk to infants, but the children, adolescent, and adult populations may face a lower cancer risk during the warm season and a higher risk in the cold season.},
  keywords = {{A}tmospheric pollution ; {G}as phase ; {H}ydrocarbons ; {N}orth {A}frica ; {G}as-particle partitioning ; {H}ealth risk ; {TUNISIE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}cience of the {T}otal {E}nvironment},
  volume = {879},
  numero = {},
  pages = {162986 [12 p.]},
  ISSN = {0048-9697},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162986},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010087579},
}