Study on the Occurrence of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Vehicular Soot and Outdoor Dust Samples: Concentrations, Profiles, and Source Estimation

Anh Quoc Hoang, Dr., Thiem Quynh Pham, Chung Duc Tran, Doanh Van Do, Hieu Duc Nguyen, Hue Thi Huong Hoang, Assoc. Prof., Hue Thi Chu, MSc., Minh Binh Tu, Assoc. Prof., Giang Thu Ton, MSc., Nguyen Thi Anh Huong

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Published Oct 15, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25073/2588-1140/vnunst.5945

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HOANG, Anh Quoc et al. Study on the Occurrence of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Vehicular Soot and Outdoor Dust Samples: Concentrations, Profiles, and Source Estimation. VNU Journal of Science: Natural Sciences and Technology, [S.l.], oct. 2026. ISSN 2588-1140. Available at: <https://js.vnu.edu.vn/NST/article/view/5945>. Date accessed: 20 oct. 2026. doi: https://doi.org/10.25073/2588-1140/vnunst.5945.
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Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are pollutants of global concern due to their omnipresence in the environment and their negative effects on ecosystems and human health. Investigations on the occurrence of PAHs in emission sources and related environmental compartments are essential to understanding the behavior and fate of these pollutants. In this study, concentrations of 17 PAHs were analyzed in vehicular soot and outdoor dust samples collected from northern Vietnam. The samples were processed using ultrasound-assisted extraction and solid-phase extraction techniques. PAH concentrations were determined using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method with internal standard quantification. Concentrations of 17 PAHs decreased in the order of gasoline soot (median 844,000; range 380,000–2,336,000 ng/g) > diesel soot (8500; 7200–176,000 ng/g) > outdoor dust (410; 130–2100 ng/g). The most predominant compounds were pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene, fluoranthene, benzo[b+j]fluoranthene, and phenanthrene. Several PAH molecular indices in soot and dust samples were calculated and compared. Vehicular exhausts are important sources of PAHs in urban outdoor dusts. Our results have confirmed the pyrogenic origins of PAHs and the possibility of using molecular indices in PAH source apportionment. Further studies should be performed to characterize source-to-sink profiles of PAHs and related compounds in Vietnam.

Keywords: PAHs, vehicular soot, outdoor dust, molecular indices, Vietnam

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