Occurrence, potential sources, and risk assessment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in atmospheric particulate matter in Hanoi, Vietnam

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PCPPs) were recently recognized as emerging pollutants due to their potential for adverse health and environmental impacts. One potential route of exposure, atmospheric particulate matter (APM), for polar PPCP chemicals has to date received limited attention. This study screened for 190 polar PPCP chemicals in outdoor APM samples collected from two locations in Hanoi, Vietnam, and predictions of source and potential effects on human health are presented. Day and night, as well as dry and rainy seasonal samples, were taken, and samples screened by LC-TOF, using sequential window acquisition and all theoretical fragment ion spectra method. Eleven PPCP chemicals were detected above the LOD and in more than one sample. The ∑11PPCP chemicals ranged from 0.61 to 21.9 ng m −3 (median 2.07 ng m −3 ), with between 2 and 6 compounds identified in individual samples (median 4). The ∑11PPCP chemicals collected near a heavy traffic area was greater than that in a populated residential zone. Night concentrations were significantly greater than day in both dry and rainy seasons ( p < 0.05). Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, benzophenone-3, acetaminophen, cotinine, and fluorescent brightener 71 were detected in > 50% of samples. These are typically found in sunscreens, cosmetics, antipyretics, tobacco, and dyes. The DI air , hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI) for adults and children at sampling sites were estimated. The HQ for both adults and children were orders of magnitude less than the risk or were close to or whichever. APM does appear to be a potential additional secondary exposure source of PPCP chemicals to the environment and more work is needed to identify if sources are local or ubiquitous and if there is a greater health risk.