A community-engaged investigation of residential polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposures in West Eugene, OR

Abstract Background A West Eugene, OR community has a history of odor complaints, anecdotally linked to a nearby wood preservative facility using creosote, a known source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The community also experiences elevated cancer risks. Objective In response to concerns about industrial air pollution, Beyond Toxics (BT) and Oregon State University (OSU) initiated a community-engaged study to characterize residential PAH exposure. Methods. Stationary passive samplers were deployed in residential and commercial areas at 17 locations in three rings around the facility: inner (0.25-mile, n = 4), middle (0.5-mile, n = 5), and outer (1 mile, n = 8), for seven days. Twelve residents also wore personal passive wristband samplers (WBs), with eight hosting both a wristband and stationary sampler. All samplers were analyzed for 64 PAHs. Daily activity logs were collected to assess co-variate exposures. Results were shared through individual and community reports and in-person meetings. Results Thirty-eight PAHs were detected in stationary samplers. The five most abundant were naphthalene (169 ng/m³), acenaphthene (165 ng/m³), 2-methylnaphthalene (160 ng/m³), 1-methylnaphthalene (87.0 ng/m³), and fluorene (40.4 ng/m³). Seventeen PAHs were detected across the 12 wristbands, with phenanthrene, 2-methylnaphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, and naphthalene as the most abundant. PAHs were highest in the inner ring and northeastern area, downwind of the facility, followed by the east, near an industrial railway. Significance The exposure patterns observed reflect community reports of odors in the northeast. The most abundant PAHs in both sampler types are associated with creosote. All wristband PAHs were also observed in stationary samplers, suggesting a common exposure source. This community-engaged study identified higher exposures near the industrial source in both ambient and personal samples- supporting long-standing community concerns. Impact statement Residents in an environmental justice community raised concerns about air pollution from industrial sources. A community-engaged research study used passive samplers to characterize and quantify ambient and personal exposure to vapor phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.