Characterization of PM₁₀ bounded trace metals in industrial, traffic, and residential areas in Bac Giang, Vietnam: Environmental and health implications

Abstract

PM₁₀ levels, concentrations of trace metals, source apportionment, and potential health risks exposed to PM₁₀-bound metals via inhalation pathway were investigated at industrial, traffic and residential sites in Bac Giang, Vietnam. The average PM₁₀ concentration exhibited the highest value at the industrial sites, followed by the traffic sites, and the residential sites. The PM₁₀ mass was 1.38 to 3.39 times higher than the National Air Quality Standard (QCVN 05:2013/BTNMT) (150 µg/m³ for 24 h). The concentrations of non-crustal trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) at industrial sites were at a higher level than at the traffic and residential sites. Enrichment Factors analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed for source apportionment of PM₁₀ in Bac Giang. Four potential emission sources including traffic-related emissions, industry, use of pesticides, and coal combustion were identified. The results of pollution load index and health risk assessments showed higher contamination levels and higher non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks posed to children and adults in the vicinity of the industrial sites than the traffic and residential sites. The HQ value for Cr greater than 1 at industrial sites expressed the adverse health effects among humans should be a concern. Further, the health risk of adults exposed to toxic elements via inhalation contact was more pronounced than the children at all sampling sites.

Keywords:

• PM₁₀
• health risk assessments
• trace metals
• pollution load index
• source apportionment

Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by Hanoi University of Civil Engineering funded project 16-2021/KHXD-TD.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

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Declaration of competing interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Funding

This research received funding from Hanoi University of Civil Engineering under the grant number: 16-2021/KHXD-TD.