This study focused on assessing the occurrence and human health risk of phthalate esters (PAEs) in particulate air pollution (PM2.5 and SPM) in two urban areas of Ha Noi (Dong Da and Ba Dinh District). A total of 56 air particulate matter samples (28 SPM samples and 28 PM2.5 samples) were collected and analyzed for 12 PAEs. Seven PAEs (DMP, DEP, DIBP, DnBP, BBP, DCHP, and DEHP) were detected with their total concentration in PM2.5 ranged from 89 ng mg-1 to 315 ng mg-1, while the total PAEs concentration in SPM ranged from 225 ng mg-1 to 679 ng mg-1, except for one SPM sample collected at night which had an exceptionally high PAEs concentration of 1876 ng mg-1. Interestingly, DIBP, DnBP, BBP and DEHP were detected in 100% of PM2.5 and SPM samples, while DEHP – a highly carcinogenic PAE – was determined to be responsible for more than 35% of the total PAEs concentration in all samples. To assess the health risks of PAEs exposure for humans, daily intake doses via inhalation (DIair) and hazard index (HI) were calculated and evaluated for adults and children living near the sampling sites. The results showed that the hazard index (HI) of PM2.5 in the two research areas was below safety threshold, ranging from 7.52E-5 to 14.3E-5 for adults and from 3.85E-5 to 7.31E-5 for children. SPM had similar results, ranging from 0.88E-5 to 7.12E-5 for adults and from 0.45E-5 to 3.65E-5. The study explored the PAEs pollution in Hanoi's air particulate matter while highlighting the necessity of air quality monitoring and management for the sake of the general public's health.

This study focused on assessing the occurrence and human health risk of phthalate esters (PAEs) in particulate air pollution (PM2.5 and SPM) in two urban areas of Ha Noi (Dong Da and Ba Dinh District). A total of 56 air particulate matter samples (28 SPM samples and 28 PM2.5 samples) were collected and analyzed for 12 PAEs. Seven PAEs (DMP, DEP, DIBP, DnBP, BBP, DCHP, and DEHP) were detected with their total concentration in PM2.5 ranged from 89 ng mg-1 to 315 ng mg-1, while the total PAEs concentration in SPM ranged from 225 ng mg-1 to 679 ng mg-1, except for one SPM sample collected at night which had an exceptionally high PAEs concentration of 1876 ng mg-1. Interestingly, DIBP, DnBP, BBP and DEHP were detected in 100% of PM2.5 and SPM samples, while DEHP – a highly carcinogenic PAE – was determined to be responsible for more than 35% of the total PAEs concentration in all samples. To assess the health risks of PAEs exposure for humans, daily intake doses via inhalation (DIair) and hazard index (HI) were calculated and evaluated for adults and children living near the sampling sites. The results showed that the hazard index (HI) of PM2.5 in the two research areas was below safety threshold, ranging from 7.52E-5 to 14.3E-5 for adults and from 3.85E-5 to 7.31E-5 for children. SPM had similar results, ranging from 0.88E-5 to 7.12E-5 for adults and from 0.45E-5 to 3.65E-5. The study explored the PAEs pollution in Hanoi's air particulate matter while highlighting the necessity of air quality monitoring and management for the sake of the general public's health.