The　interest　in　the　contaminants　in　PM2.51　(PMs　with　a　diameter　of　2.5　samples　collected　from　Taiyuan　and　Guangzhou.　The　total　concentration　of　seven　APs　was　700.58　pg　m−3　in　Guangzhou　and　916.12　pg　m−3　in　Taiyuan.　The　dominant　PM2.5-bound　APs　were　4-pentylphenol　(4-PeP),　4-nonylphenol　(4-NP),　and　2-6-di-tert-butyl-4-(hydroxymethyl)phenol　(BHT-OH).　Meanwhile,　a　higher　concentration　of　APs　was　observed　in　Taiyuan　during　spring　and　winter,　according　with　obvious　seasonal　variation.　The　presence　of　APs　in　air　samples　from　Guangzhou　was　primarily　attributed　to　human　activities.　Furthermore,　estimated　daily　intakes　(EDIs)　of　APs　via　ambient　inhalation　were　calculated　for　different　age　groups　to　evaluate　human　exposure　risk,　which　revealed　that　the　worst-case　EDI　for　children　was　61.29　pg　kgbw−1　day−1,　indicating　that　the　presence　of　APs　in　the　atmospheric　environment　should　not　be　underestimated.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd