Levels and human health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor dust in Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied in 15 indoor dust samples collected from 15 dwellings in urban Hanoi and estimated health risk assessment to the local population via dust ingestion and dermal contact. Sixteen PAHs were detected with a detection frequency of 80 -100%, and a range of concentrations of -1490ng/g. Benz (j&b) fluoranthene (BbF), fluoranthene (Flt), and chrysene&triphenylen (Chr) were the most dominant compounds with the mean concentration of 1490; 984; 806, and 714ng/g, respectively. The contribution of 3 and 4-ring PAHs dominated the profile of PAHs significantly in the indoor dust. Results calculated benzo(a)pyrene equivalent carcinogenic power (BaPE) showed that 5-and 6-aromatic rings PAHs were major toxicity threats in the carcinogenic index of PAHs in indoor dust. Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for adults and young calculated using ingestion and dermal contact was within the limits set by USEPA using the total concentration of 7 PAHs. The estimated ILCR for adults and children are 3.9x10 -3 and 4.2x10 -3 , respectively. These results are much higher than the recommended safety limit by EPA being 1x10 -4 which showed that PAHs in indoor dust has a significant long-term effect on adults and young children in urban of Hanoi.