Air pollutant dynamics and behaviours in tobacco processing and storage environments: implications for air quality and health hazards

Abstract

Tobacco curing poses serious environmental and health risks from elevated airborne pollutant emissions. This study aims to identify key air pollutants and associated behaviours during tobacco curing and storage operations, focusing on their impacts on air quality and potential health risks. This in situ analysis was conducted over 24 h at six tobacco curing houses (CHs) and three storage houses (SHs). Pollutant dynamics are influenced by ambient temperature and relative humidity, with higher temperatures and lower humidity amplifying emissions. Statistical analysis confirms that particulate matter (PM), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), HCHO, NO₂, O₃, CO, and SO₂ for both environments exceed WHO standard limits, and most pollutants follow flat distributions with occasional spikes. Indoor–outdoor ratio (I/O) analysis shows that outdoor pollution stems from biomass combustion, while indoor levels result from both outdoor diffusion and indoor emissions. Pearson's correlation, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis reveal a strong correlation among TVOCs, HCHO, NO₂, and O₃, suggesting similar sources and behaviours. Air quality indices (AQIs) indicate severe degradation, with CHs reaching unhealthy and SHs reaching very unhealthy levels, primarily driven by PM, NO₂, and O₃. These pollutants pose significant threats to human health, particularly for children sleeping in SHs, with TVOCs, HCHO, NO₂, and PM primarily driving non-carcinogenic risks, and TVOCs are emerging as a major cancer risk. TVOCs, HCHO, and NO₂ also impair plant health. This research highlights severe air pollution and associated health hazards in tobacco curing and storage environments, guiding policies to reduce exposure and promote sustainable tobacco production practices.