Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in airborne particulate matter samples from Hanoi, Vietnam: Particle size distribution, aryl hydrocarbon ligand receptor activity, and implication for cancer risk assessment.
Concentrations and profiles of unsubstituted and methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs and Me-PAHs) were analyzed in airborne particulate matter (PM) samples collected from high-traffic roads in Hanoi urban area. Levels of PAHs and Me-PAHs ranged from 210 to 660 (average 420) ng/m3 in total PM, and these pollutants were mainly associated with fine particles (PM2.5) rather than coarser ones (PM > 10 and PM10). Proportions of high-molecular-weight compounds (i.e., 5- and 6-ring) increased with decreasing particle size. Benzo[b+k]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, and benzo[ghi]perylene were the most predominant compounds in the PM2.5 samples. In all the samples, Me-PAHs were less abundant than unsubstituted PAHs. The PAH-CALUX assays were applied to evaluate aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand activities in crude extracts and different fractions from the PM samples. Benzo[a]pyrene equivalents (BaP-EQs) derived by the PAH-CALUX assays for low polar fractions (mainly PAHs and Me-PAHs) ranged from 300 to 840 ng/m3, which were more consistent with theoretical values derived by using PAH-CALUX relative potencies (270-710 ng/m3) rather than conventional toxic equivalency factor-based values (22-69 ng/m3). Concentrations of PAHs and Me-PAHs highly correlated with bioassay-derived BaP-EQs. AhR-mediated activities of more polar compounds and interaction effects between PAH-related compounds were observed. By using PAH-CALUX BaP-EQs, the ILCR values ranged from 1.0 × 10-4 to 2.8 × 10-4 for adults and from 6.4 × 10-5 to 1.8 × 10-4 for children. Underestimation of cancer risk can be eliminated by using effect-directed method (e.g., PAH-CALUX) rather than chemical-specific approach.
['Trung|Nguyen Thanh|NT|', 'Anh|Hoang Quoc|HQ|', 'Tue|Nguyen Minh|NM|', 'Suzuki|Go|G|', 'Takahashi|Shin|S|', 'Tanabe|Shinsuke|S|', 'Khai|Nguyen Manh|NM|', 'Hong|Tran Thi|TT|', 'Dau|Pham Thi|PT|', 'Thuy|Pham Chau|PC|', 'Tuyen|Le Huu|LH|']
D000328:Adult D000393:Air Pollutants D002648:Child D004784:Environmental Monitoring D006801:Humans D008024:Ligands D009369:Neoplasms D010316:Particle Size D052638:Particulate Matter D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons D018570:Risk Assessment D014744:Vietnam
Airborne particulate matter Hanoi PAHs PAH-CALUX Methylated PAHs