Health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds emitted from the initial degradation of kitchen waste in residential areas

Abstract

In order to clarify the health risk of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted during the initial degradation of kitchen waste, a one-year-long sampling campaign was conducted followed by VOCs emission monitoring from kitchen waste bins in a residential area. A total of 40 VOCs with non-carcinogenic risk were identified and 16 of them also had carcinogenic risk. The annual cumulative hazard index was 8.69 ± 20.35 with a median of 2.18 and the annual cumulative carcinogenic risk was (3.91 ± 7.73) × 10^–5 with a median of 1.85 × 10^–5. The highest cumulative hazard index was observed in summer (30.6), significantly exceeding the safety threshold and much higher than that in the other three seasons. Daily variation revealed that, the peaks for both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks appeared at the initial 6 h in summer and at 18–24 h in autumn and winter, but that in spring showed a different pattern. Combined with the detection frequencies of the substances, n-pentane was identified as the key non-carcinogenic risk compound and chloroform as the key carcinogenic risk species. The shortest time periods for the residents to reach the cumulative non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk thresholds were approximately 18 and 10 yr, respectively, indicating that the health risks of the VOCs from the kitchen waste bins were relatively low, but a proper attention should be paid to the crucial compounds. This study provides a theoretical basis for risk control and policy implementation in municipal solid waste management.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Municipal solid waste / Kitchen waste / Volatile organic compounds / Non-carcinogenic risk / Carcinogenic risk

Highlight

	● VOCs emitted during initial degradation of kitchen waste were monitored at bins.
	● Annual cumulative hazard index of the emitted VOCs from kitchen waste was 8.7 ± 20.4.
	● Annual cumulative carcinogenic risk of the emitted VOCs was (3.9 ± 7.7) × 10–5.
	● The highest cumulative hazard index occurring in summer exceeded the safety threshold.
	● Non- and carcinogenic risks showed different daily variations across seasons

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