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Environ Int

Title:		"Heterogeneity in coal composition and implications for lung cancer risk in Xuanwei and Fuyuan counties, China"
Author(s):		Downward GS; Hu W; Large D; Veld H; Xu J; Reiss B; Wu G; Wei F; Chapman RS; Rothman N; Qing L; Vermeulen R;
Address:		"Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: g.s.downward@uu.nl. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, USA. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, UK. Deltares, Department of Applied Microbiology and Geochemistry, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Department of Community Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. China National Environmental Monitoring Centre, Beijing, China. College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand"
Journal Title:		Environ Int
Year:		2014
Volume:		20140407
Issue:
Page Number:		94 - 104
DOI:		10.1016/j.envint.2014.03.019
ISSN/ISBN:		1873-6750 (Electronic) 0160-4120 (Print) 0160-4120 (Linking)
Abstract:		"BACKGROUND: Xuanwei and Fuyuan counties in Yunnan Province, China have among the highest lung cancer rates in the country. This has been associated with the domestic combustion of bituminous coal (referred to as 'smoky' coal). Additionally, significant geographical variation in cancer rates among smoky coal users has been observed, suggesting heterogeneity in fuel source composition and/or combustion characteristics. Research thus far has indicated that smoky coal emits high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and contains high concentrations of fine grained crystalline quartz, however, much of this research is limited in terms of sample size and geographic scope. In order to more fully characterise geochemical and elemental compositions of smoky and smokeless coal use in Xuanwei and Fuyuan, we carried out a large exposure assessment study in households in this region. METHODS: Fuel samples representing smoky and 'smokeless' (anthracite, the major alternative coal type in the region) coals were collected from 137 homes in Xuanwei and Fuyuan. Rock-Eval, Leco-CS, XRF analysis and electron microscopy were used to establish hydrocarbon content (to represent volatile organic compounds), major and trace element composition and mineral composition respectively. Heterogeneity in coal characteristics between and within coal types was assessed by the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: 145 coal samples (116 smoky and 29 smokeless coals) were analysed. Statistically significant differences between smoky and smokeless coals with regard to hydrocarbon content, sulfur, trace elements and mineral composition were observed. Of note, smoky coal contained between 5 and 15 times the amount of volatile organic matter and twice the amount of quartz (including respirable quartz) than smokeless coal. Smoky coal generally had lower levels of trace elements (plus aluminium) than smokeless coal. Significant variation was also observed between smoky coal samples from different geographical areas with regard to hydrocarbon content and elemental composition (including aluminium and silicon). DISCUSSION: This paper has identified compositional differences between and within smoky and smokeless coals sourced from Xuanwei and Fuyuan counties. A decreased ratio of aluminium to silicon in smoky coal suggests elevated free silica, a finding consistent with observed higher levels of quartz. Elevated volatile organic matter content in smoky coal (when compared to smokeless coal) is consistent with the geochemical expectations for smoky and smokeless coals. These findings also reflect previous observations of elevated volatile compound emissions (notably PAHs) from smoky coal in the area. The observed heterogeneity in coal composition between and within coal types may provide leads to the observed heterogeneity in cancer risk observed in this area"
Keywords:		Air Pollutants/adverse effects/chemistry Case-Control Studies China Coal/*analysis Cross-Sectional Studies Humans Hydrocarbons/analysis Lung Neoplasms/*epidemiology Metals/analysis Quartz/analysis Risk Factors Sulfur/analysis Trace Elements/analysis Volat;
Notes:		"MedlineDownward, George S Hu, Wei Large, David Veld, Harry Xu, Jun Reiss, Boris Wu, Guoping Wei, Fusheng Chapman, Robert S Rothman, Nat Qing, Lan Vermeulen, Roel eng Z01 CP010123-12/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/ HHSN261201400122P/PHS HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural Netherlands 2014/04/12 Environ Int. 2014 Jul; 68:94-104. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.03.019. Epub 2014 Apr 7"