No abstract

In this study, we compared particulate matter (PM) measurements (including PM 10 , PM 2.5 , heavy metals, and black carbon) between the 2014 rainy season (August-October) and dry season (March-May) in different urban areas within Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations varied widely among the sampling sites during each season, with relative PM concentrations increasing in the following order: city zoo < rural area < residential area < roadside < city road. Higher PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations observed on roads and at roadsides were strongly correlated with vehicle activity. Heavy metals were found to be important atmospheric PM components ranged from 131.77 ± 42.13 to 233.13 ± 79.88 µg m −3 . Changes in black carbon concentration in Ho Chi Minh City may have been related to changes in meteorological conditions and may in turn influence ambient air quality. These results provide useful reference information for urban development planning and environmental policy.

Saltwater intrusion is widely observed in coastal aquifers because fresh groundwater is over exploited and abstraction wells were installed too close to saltwater intrusion zone. Identification of salt/fresh groundwater interface is important for fresh groundwater protection. This study presents an application of combination groundwater investigation methods including vertical electric sounding (VES), geochemistry and geographic information system (GIS) tools for delineation of salt/fresh groundwater interface in Mekong Delta. Twenty-seven groundwater samples are collected in existing wells for chemical analysis. Vertical electric sounding (VES) method was conducted for 37 sites to delineate freshwater zone (TDS <1g/L) and saline groundwater zone (TDS>1 g/L). Two new wells are also installed after VES measurement for groundwater sampling. Result of geochemical analysis show that TDS values of groundwater samples range from 0.25 g/L to 1.3 g/L and Cl from 8.8 to 758.6 mg/L. Electrical resistivity values range from 2 to 18.4 Ωm. The electrical resistivity values less than 10.4 Ωm is well correlated to saline groundwater. The study shows that even though VES can be an effective tool for identification of fresh/saline groundwater distribution, the method could not identify the saltwater intrusion zone. Combination of geochemical and GIS methods can clearly delineate saltwater intrusion zone. The study results show that fresh groundwater is limited in a small area of upper-middle Pleistocene aquifers. The fresh groundwater is highly affected by salinization. Therefore, the area urgently needs to take proper measures for sustainable groundwater development.