Fine aerosol Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Oxygenated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (OPAHs) and other PM_2.5 components were quantified in Ioannina, a Southeastern European city facing severe air quality degradation due to residential biomass burning (BB). Polycyclic Aromatic Compound (PAC) seasonal means were extremely enhanced in winter compared to summer (by 98 and 88 times for PAHs and OPAHs, respectively). Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) registered a 347-fold winter increase, and its estimated annual mean was 2.4 times higher than the EU standard. Medium- and high-molecular weight PAC species correlated well with PM_2.5 DTTv activity (R²: 0.48 and 0.54, respectively), suggesting also their significant non-carcinogenic potential. These PAC groups were strongly associated with methanol- and water-soluble Brown Carbon absorption (R² > 0.7). Source apportionment by Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) on the speciation dataset indicated BB as the major aerosol source, contributing > 80 % to average Σ-PAC concentrations and their carcinogenic potential during the study period. The PAC carcinogenic risk assessment highlighted the importance of considering the inclusion of not only legacy PAHs but also emerging species with very high estimated toxicity, such as Benzo(c)fluorene and Dibenzo-pyrenes. Observed concentrations were alarming, posing substantial short- and especially long-term risks. Therefore, there is an urgent need to regulate residential BB in Ioannina and similar urban environments in SE Europe.

To study the spatiotemporal variability of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and assess their carcinogenic potential in six contrasting urban environments in Greece, a total of 305 filter samples were collected and analyzed. Sampling sites included a variety of urban background, traffic (Athens, Ioannina and Heraklion), rural (Xanthi) and near-port locations (Piraeus and Volos). When considering the sum of 16 U.S. EPA priority PAHs, as well as that of the six EU-proposed members, average concentrations observed across locations during summer varied moderately (0.4–2.2 ng m⁻³) and independently of the population of each site, with the highest values observed in the areas of Piraeus and Volos that are affected by port and industrial activities. Winter levels were significantly higher and more spatially variable compared to summer, with the seasonal enhancement ranging from 7 times in Piraeus to 98 times in Ioannina, indicating the large impact of PAH emissions from residential wood burning. Regarding benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), an IARC Group 1 carcinogen and the only EU-regulated PAH, the winter/summer ratios were 24–33 in Athens, Volos, Heraklion and Xanthi; 60 in Piraeus; and 480 in Ioannina, which is afflicted by severe wood-burning pollution events. An excellent correlation was observed between organic carbon (OC) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) during the cold period at all urban sites (r² > 0.8) with stable BaP/OC slopes (0.09–0.14 × 10⁻³), highlighting the potential use of OC as a proxy for the estimation of BaP in winter conditions. The identified spatiotemporal contrasts, which were explored for the first time for PAHs at such a scale in the Eastern Mediterranean, provide important insights into sources and controlling atmospheric conditions and reveal large deviations in exposure risks among cities that raise the issue of environmental injustice on a national level.

In October 2022, the European Commission published a proposal for a revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directive, introducing stricter thresholds for pollution, more closely aligned with new limits set by the WHO, and strengthening rules for air quality monitoring to support preventive action and targeted measures