Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon in Airborne Particulate Matter Samples by Gas Chromatography in Combination with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)

Assessing the effect of COVID 19 lockdowns on the composition of organic compounds and potential source of PM2.5 in Hanoi, Vietnam

The ambient air quality during COVID-19 lockdowns has been improved in many cities in the world. This study is to assess the changes in persistent organic pollutants in PM2.5 during the COVID-19 lockdown in Hanoi. Individual organic species in PM2.5 ((e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)) were measured in an urban residential area in Hanoi from before the March 10th to April 22nd, 2020, including before the partial lockdown (BL) and the partial lockdown (PL) phases. During the PL phase, the concentration of Σ14PAHs and Σ28PCBs was reduced by 38 and 52% compared with the BL period, respectively. The diagnostic ratio method implied that the sources of PAHs within the PL phase had a less effect on traffic and industrial activities than in the BL phase. The characteristic ratio method indicated that PCBs were mixed by commercial product and combustion process in both the BL and the PL periods, however, the source of PCBs in the BL phase was influenced by municipal waste incineration more than those in the PL phase. The decreasing concentration of Σ20OCPs during the partial lockdown was attributed to the restriction of human activities during the quarantine period. The results suggested that the source of OCPs was probably derived from the usage of pesticides in current and, historical degradation or the transportation of pesticides from the soil to the atmosphere.

Characterisation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with indoor PM0.1 and PM2.5 in Hanoi and implications for health risks

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with indoor PM pose a high risk to human health because of their toxicity. A total of 160 daily samples of indoor PM2.5 and PM0.1 were collected in Hanoi and analysed for 15 PAHs. In general, the concentrations of carcinogenic PAHs (car-PAHs) accounted for 21% ± 2%, 19.1% ± 2%, and 26% ± 3% of the concentrations of 15 PAHs in PM2.5, PM0.1-2.5, and PM0.1, respectively. Higher percentages of car-PAHs were found in smaller fractions (PM0.1), which can be easily deposited deep in the pulmonary regions of the human respiratory tract. The concentrations of 15 PAHs were higher in winter than in summer. The most abundant PAH species were naphthalene and phenanthrene, accounting for 11%-21% and 19%-23%, respectively. The PAH content in PM0.1 was almost twice as high as those in PM2.5 and PM0.1-2.5. Principal component analysis found that vehicle emissions and the combustion of biomass and coal were the main outdoor sources of PAHs, whereas indoor sources included cooking activities, the combustion of incense, scented candles, and domestic uses in houses. According to the results, 60%-90% of the PM0.1-bound BaP(eq) was deposited in the alveoli region, whereas 63%-75% of the PM2.5-bound BaP(eq) was deposited in head airways (HA), implying that most of the particles deposited in the HA region were PM0.1-2.5. The contributions of dibenz[a,h]anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene were dominant and contributed from 36% to 51% and 31%-50%, respectively, to the carcinogenic potential, whereas benzo[a]pyrene contributed from 30% to 49% to the mutagenic potential for both size fractions. The incremental lifetime cancer risk, simulated by Monte Carlo simulation, was within the limits set by the US EPA, indicating an acceptable risk for the occupants. These results provide an additional scientific basis for protecting human health from exposure to indoor PAHs.

Emission and distribution profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in solid residues of municipal and industrial waste incinerators, Northern Vietnam

The concentrations and profiles of 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in particulate matter (PM₁₀), fly ash (FA), and bottom ash (BA) were examined in three incineration residues. Samples were collected from different municipal and industrial solid waste incinerators in Northern Vietnam. The average concentrations of total PAHs in PM₁₀, fly ash, and bottom ash were 9.55 × 10³ ng/Nm³, 215 × 10³ ng/g, and 2.38 ng/g, respectively. Low-molecular-weight PAHs (2 to 3 rings) were predominant in most samples. The emission factor of total PAHs decreased in the order of FA > BA > PM₁₀. A higher concentration of total PAHs was found in industrial facilities than that in municipal ones. The high carcinogenic proportion of PAHs together with significantly high annual emissions reflect the high pollution risk to the ecosystem by PAHs in the case of reuse of incineration ashes (e.g., brick production). Regarding the carcinogenic risk of PAH-bounded ashes or particles, calculations from this study imply the significant threat for workers who have been manipulated in the incineration facilities, directly exposed to fly and bottom ashes. Meanwhile, the risk from PAH-bound particulate was not considered a significant threat for both normal adults and children. Further study on PAHs contained in incinerator waste dumps should be conducted in Vietnam to assess the potential contamination risk of these incineration by-products.

Contemporary Research Progress on the Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of the most common and widespread contaminants. The accumulation of PAHs has made a certain impact on the environment and is seriously threatening human health. Numerous general analytical methods suitable for PAHs were developed. With the development of economy, the environmental problems of PAHs in modern society are more extensive and prominent, and attract more attention from environmental scientists and analysts. Deeper understanding of the properties of PAHs depends on the advent of detection methods, which can also be more conducive to promoting the protection of the environment. Till now, more sensitive, more high-speed and more high-throughput analytical tools are being invented and have played important roles in the research of PAHs. In this short review article, we focused mainly on the contemporary analytical methods about PAHs. We started with a brief review on the hazards, migration, distribution and traditional analysis methods of PAHs in recent years, including liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and so on. We also presented the applications of the modern ambient mass spectrometry, especially microwave plasma torch mass spectrometry, in the detection of PAHs, as well as the far out novel results in our lab by using microwave plasma torch (MPT) mass spectrometry; for example, some new insights about Birch reduction, regular hydrogen addition and the robustness of molecular structure. These studies have demonstrated the versatility of MPT MS as a platform in the research of PAHs.

Quantitative analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array-high-resolution mass spectrometric detection platform coupled to electrospray and atmospheric pressure photoionization sources

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common pollutants present in atmospheric aerosols and other environmental mixtures. They are of particular air quality and human health concerns as many of them are carcinogenic toxins. They also affect absorption of solar radiation by aerosols, therefore contributing to the radiative forcing of climate. For environmental chemistry studies, it is advantageous to quantify PAH components using the same analytical technics that are commonly applied to characterize a broad range of polar analytes present in the same environmental mixtures. Liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array and high-resolution mass spectrometric detection (LC-PDA-HRMS) is a method of choice for comprehensive characterization of chemical composition and quantification of light absorption properties of individual organic compounds present in the environmental samples. However, quantification of non-polar PAHs by this method is poorly established because of their imperfect ionization in electrospray ionization (ESI) technique. This tutorial article provides a comprehensive evaluation of the quantitative analysis of 16 priority pollutant PAHs in a standard reference material using the LC-MS platform coupled with the ESI source. Results are further corroborated by the quantitation experiments using an atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) method, which is more sensitive for the PAH detection. The basic concepts and step-by-step practical guidance for the PAHs quantitative characterization are offered based on the systematic experiments, which include (1) Evaluation effects of different acidification levels by formic acid on the (+)ESI-MS detection of PAHs. (2) Comparison of detection limits in ESI+ versus APPI+ experiments. (3) Investigation of the PAH fragmentation patterns in MS2 experiments at different collision energies. (4) Calculation of wavelength dependent mass absorption coefficient (MACλ ) of the standard mixture and its individual PAHs using LC-PDA data. (5) Assessment of the minimal injected mass required for accurate quantification of MACλ of the standard mixture and of a multi-component environmental sample.

Industrial Source Contributions and Health Risk Assessment of Fine Particle-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) during Spring and Late Summer in the Baoshan Area, Shanghai

The main objective of this study was to examine the chemical characteristics, possible sources, and health risks of fine particle-bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Baoshan area of Shanghai. Here, ambient particles with five-size ranges were collected during the spring and late summer of 2017. The PAHs were determined by the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Our results showed that the average mass concentration of 13 species of PAHs in spring and in late summer was 4.83 (1.88~12.1) ng/m3 and 4.27 (2.09~5.75) ng/m3 in Total Suspended Particles (TSPs), respectively. The higher PAH ratios (PM1.1/TSPs) indicated that PAHs are mainly concentrated in PM1.1, especially in late summer. The values of BaA/(BaA+CHR) were under 0.50 and IcdP/(IcdP+BghiP) were in range from 0.20 to 0.50 for TSP and PM1.1, suggesting that petroleum combustion and diesel emissions could be considered as key sources of PAHs, which tend to be associated with PM1.1. Moreover, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in PM1.1 identified the main PH sources, which include stationary and diesel emissions. The air mass backward trajectories and wind direction analysis showed that air masses were mainly derived from marine sources across the local industry area in late summer. Individual Carcinogenic Risk Inhalation (ILCR) was over 10−6 among the total six age groups in both of the sampling periods in TSPs, indicating the possible carcinogenic risk, especially for children and the young age group. Toxic PAHs belong to Heavy Molecular Weight (HMW) PAHs, especially Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). Compared with PM1.1–2.0, the Combustion-Derived PAHs group (COMPAHs) and Carcinogenic PAHs (CANPAHs) were highly concentrated in PM1.1. Stationary sources, such as the developed steel industry, made a great contribution to the level of PAHs, especially in late summer.