Abstract
This is the first investigation on overall characteristics of 25 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (15 PAHs regulated by US-EPA (excluding naphthalene) and 16 PAHs recommended by the European Union) in ambient air of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Their levels, congener profiles, gas/particle partitioning, potential sources of atmospheric PAHs (gas and particulate phases), and lung cancer risks in the dry and rainy seasons were examined. The ∑25 PAH concentration in the dry and rainy seasons ranged from 8.79 to 33.2 ng m−3 and 26.0 to 60.0 ng m−3, respectively. Phenanthrene and Indeno[123-cd]pyrene were major contributors to gaseous and particulate PAHs, respectively, while benzo[c]fluorene was dominant component of the total BaP-TEQ. The ∑16 EU-PAH concentration contributed to 13 ± 2.7% of the total ∑ 25 PAH concentration; however, they composed over 99% of the total ∑ 25 PAH toxic concentration. Adsorption mainly governed the phase partitioning of PAHs because the slope of correlation between logKp and logP0L was steeper than − 1. Vehicular emission was the primary source of PAHs in two seasons; however, PAHs in the dry season were also originated from biomass burning. Assessment of lung cancer risk showed that children possibly exposed to potential lung cancer risk via inhalation.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED 104.04-2019.35) for the project: “Investigation of levels, distributions, sources and preliminary risk assessment of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) in ambient air of Ho Chi Minh City.” We appreciate the supports regarding sampling instruments and analysis from National Central University, Taiwan. We also thank you for the support from our universities (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, International University and University of Science—Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City) for us to work on this project.
Funding
This study was funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED 104.04–2019.35) for doing research.
National Foundation for Science and Technology Development,NAFOSTED 104.04–2019.35,Ngo Thuan
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Sampling: Ngo Thi Thuan, To Thi Hien, Nhung Thi-Tuyet Hoang, and Hiep Ngoc Tran. Sample analysis; writing, original draft; writing, review and editing: Nguyen Duy Dat and Ngo Thi Thuan. Conceptualization: To Thi Hien, Tran Tien Khoi. Supervision, conceived, designed the methodology, writing—review and editing: Moo Been Chang. All authors approved the final manuscript.
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Highlights
• A higher level of PAHs was measured in the rainy season compared to the dry season.
• Adsorption might be the main mechanism governing the phase partitioning of PAHs.
• Different mixed sources contributed to PAHs collected in two seasons.
• Sixteen EU-PAHs should be considered for evaluation of the risk associated.
• Children could have a higher cancer risk due to PAHs inhalation in the rainy season.
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Dat, N.D., Thuan, N.T., Hoang, N.TT. et al. Characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air of a tropical mega-area, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: concentration, distribution, gas/particle partitioning, potential sources and cancer risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 44054–44066 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-18859-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-18859-y