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.

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.

Atmospheric concentrations and gas-particle partitioning of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs around Hochiminh city.

Atmospheric PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs samples were collected in Hochiminh city, Vietnam to address the effect of meteorological parameters, especially rainfall, on the occurrence and gas/particle partitioning of these persistent organic pollutants. The results indicate that PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs concentrations in industrial site are higher than those measured in commercial and rural sites during both rainy and dry seasons. In terms of mass concentration, ambient PCDD/F levels measured in dry season are significantly higher than those measured in rainy season while dl-PCB levels do not vary significantly between rainy and dry seasons. The difference could be attributed to different gas/particle partitioning characteristics between PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs. PCDD/Fs are found to be mainly distributed in particle phase while dl- PCBs are predominantly distributed in gas phase in both rainy and dry seasons. Additionally, Junge-Pankow and Harner-Bidleman models are applied to better understand the gas/particle partitioning of these pollutants in atmosphere. As a results, both PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs are under non-equilibrium gas/particle partitioning condition, and PCDD/Fs tend to reach equilibrium easier in rainy season while there are no clear trend for dl-PCBs. Harner-Bidleman model performs better in evaluating the gas/particle partitioning of PCDD/Fs while Junge-Pankow model results in better prediction for dl-PCBs.

Atmospheric PCDD/F concentration and source apportionment in typical rural, Agent Orange hotspots, and industrial areas in Vietnam.

Vietnam has a double burden of dioxin from both industrial sources and historical sources. To evaluate the concentration of PCDD/Fs in ambient air in different areas of Vietnam and their possible sources, atmospheric samples were collected from three areas namely Son La (rural area) and Da Nang (harbor - Agent Orange hotspot area), and Ho Chi Minh City (metropolitan - industrial city). Vapor and solid phases of PCDD/Fs were collected and analyzed following the TO-9A sampling method. Principal Component Analysis and Positive Matrix Factorization model were applied to characterize the possible source. The average concentrations of PCDD/Fs were found to be 21.3 ± 13 fg I-TEQ/m3 in Son La (n = 32), 65.2 ± 34 fg I-TEQ/m3 in Da Nang (n = 16) and 139 ± 84 fg I-TEQ/m3 in Ho Chi Minh City (n = 8). The findings of this study targeted open burning (42%) and biomass burning (51%) as the major emission sources of PCDD/Fs in ambient air of Son La, Vietnam. Major possible sources of PCDD/Fs in Da Nang could be transportation activities (64%), however, the other factor (36%) was suspected to be contaminated with 2,3,7,8-TeCDD from Agent Orange. Most of PCDD/Fs emitted in Ho Chi Minh City related to industrial activities (93%).

PCDD/PCDF behavior in low-temperature pyrolysis of PCP-contaminated sandy soil.

This study investigates the behavior of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) formation, dechlorination and destruction in PCP-contaminated sandy soil by low-temperature thermal treatment. Experimental tests were carried out in a nitrogen atmosphere in the temperature range of 200-400 °C with a treatment time of 30 min. 70% of PCP removal from the soil was achieved, resulting in 1436±230 ng/kg, the highest PCDD/F formation at 250 °C; however, the highest toxic concentration was measured around 4.20±0.62 ng TEQ/kg at 300 °C with 80% PCP removal from the soil. Further analysis has revealed that OCDD is the most dominant congener that is supposed to be formed from the pyrolysis of PCP, while OCDF is the second prevailing congener, possibly due to pyrolysis of 2,3,4,5-TeCP being a main byproduct of PCP pyrolysis. Detection of less chlorinated dioxins and furans over 300 °C indicates the dechlorination of highly chlorinated dioxins and furans, especially octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) at 350 °C and 400 °C. Desorption from soil was supposed as a main mechanism for the distribution of PCDD/Fs in the gaseous phase, and not much difference in dioxins and furan levels was observed at 350 °C and 400 °C in the gaseous phase. Therefore, 350 °C is the most appropriate temperature to remove most PCP and PCDD/Fs from soil, as well as to meet PCDD/F emission standards (0.1 ng I-TEQ/Nm(3)).

Investigation of the degradation of pentachlorophenol in sandy soil via low-temperature pyrolysis.

Thermal treatments are the primary technologies used to simultaneously remove high-concentrations of pentachlorophenol (PCP) and polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) from contaminated soils such as the An-Shun soil, Taiwan. However, the high cost of energy required and the potential formation of dioxins during the incineration/combustion of PCP have limited their applications. In this study, an investigation of PCP pyrolysis in sandy soil at a relatively low temperature range (200-400°C) was conducted. Temperature and heating time required to achieve the maximum removal efficiency of PCP and its byproducts from soil were investigated. Additionally, primary pathways leading to PCP removal from sandy soil were studied. The experimental results showed that a significant portion of PCP (>90%) and its byproducts were removed from the soil at 350°C with a treatment time of 40 min. The PCP decay rate constant increased exponentially from 0.20 min(-1) to 1.98 min(-1) as the operating temperature was increased from 200°C to 400°C. While pyrolysis and desorption are the main degradation pathways, detection of lower chlorinated phenols in the gas/soil indicates that dechlorination of PCP occurs during the degradation process. Low levels of PCDD/Fs were detected in the soil/gas during the pyrolysis of PCP-contaminated soils.

Analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans in various aqueous samples in Taiwan.

Twenty-one fresh water samples were taken from reservoirs, wells and drinking water treatment plants in Taiwan for measurement of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) concentrations. Due to low concentration of PCDD/Fs, water samples (400-1,000 L) were collected by using the on-site large volume pre-concentration system and analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography (HRGC)/high resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS). Different characteristics of dioxin profiles in surface water and groundwater are observed. The PCDD/F concentrations in fresh water samples varied from 0.001 to 0.265 pg WHO(98)-TEQ/L which are lower than the standard (12 pg WHO(98)-TEQ/L) set by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (TEPA) for drinking water. Only a small fraction (<5%) of the total PCDD/F concentration in fresh water samples was water-soluble. As a result of their hydrophobicity, PCDD/Fs are effectively removed along with suspended solid via the water treatment process (average 98% removal efficiency).

Triterpenoids from aerial parts of Glochidion eriocarpum.

From the aerial parts of Glochidion eriocarpum, a new triterpene, glochieriol (1), three new triterpenoid saponins, glochieriosides C - E (2 - 4), together with four known triterpenes (glochidonol, glochidiol, lupeol, and 3-epi-lupeol) were isolated by using combined chromatographic separations. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data, including FTICR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR.

A new lignan dimer from Mallotus philippensis.

A new lignan dimer, bilariciresinol (1), was isolated from the leaves of Mallotus philippensis, along with platanoside (2), isovitexin (3), dihydromyricetin (4), bergenin (5), 4-O-galloylbergenin (6), and pachysandiol A (7). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic experiments including 1D and 2D NMR and FTICR-MS.