Assessment of human exposure to toxic air pollutants released from traffic in urban area of Hanoi, Vietnam | |
| Author | Pham Minh Hang |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-16-25 |
| Subject(s) | Air--Pollution--Physiological effect--Vietnam--Hanoi Air--Pollution--Vietnam--Hanoi Air--Pollution--Health aspects Roadside ecology--Vietnam--Hanoi |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. EV-16-25 |
| Abstract | Along with the economic development, air quality in big cities has become worse mainly due to traffic emission. This study investigated levels of roadside traffic related air pollutants, personal exposure of the people living along a selected road in Hanoi and potential health risks. The integrated monitoring approach was applied which consisted of roadside air monitoring, traffic counting and personal exposure monitoring. The monitored toxic air pollutants included PM2.5, black carbon (BC), BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) and number of coarse and fine particles in a residential street (Nguyen Ngoc Nai Street) in Hanoi during the month of November and December 2015. PM2.5 was monitored by MiniVol equipments, BTEX were collected by charcoal tubes, while particle numbers were measured by automatic instruments (GRIMM). The monitoring was done at roadside (3 m from street), and at distance of 20 m and 60 m from traffic lanes. The levels of PM2.5, BC, BTEX and particle number were analyzed in relation to traffic volume (i.e., rush and non-rush hours) and distance to the street (roadside, 20 m downwind and 60 m downwind). The average indoor and outdoor roadside concentrations were 128 and 146 μg/m³, respectively for PM2.5;14 and 17 μg/m³, respectively for BC. The hourly levels of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene and m, p-xylenes varies between 3.44–370.74, 41.27–373.72, 0 –41.46, 47.53–124.99 and 53.36–237.95 μg/m³, respectively for indoor environment and 3.24–401.56, 44.82–502.55, 0.34–121.55, 61.51–164.43 and 33.50–253.66 μg/m³, respectively for outdoor environment. Number of particles was counted online consist of several PM sizes: PM0.3, PM1-0.3, PM2.5-1, PM10-2.5. The smallest particle (PM0.3, i.e. with diameter less than or equal 0.3 μm) had the highest amount; the biggest particle (PM10-2.5) had the lowest counts. During monitoring period, higher concentrations were observed on weekdays and at peak hours than weekend and at off-peak hours. This corresponds to the variations in traffic volume between weekdays and weekends, peak and off-peak. Pollution levels measured at roadside (with proximity to street of 3m), 20m and 60m were found to reduce with increasing downwind distance. Average exposed levels of PM2.5, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene and m,p-xylenes of the roadside dwellers were 327, 83, 152, 7, 46 and 103 μg/m³ which are high, hence could lead to the high risk of non-carcinogenic for particulate matter due to exposure to PM (HQ=11); and carcinogenic effects for benzene (111x10-6). Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the data set of air pollution levels and traffic volume which revealed that van had good correlation to both PM and BTEX as it uses both diesel and gasoline fuel. BTEX were linked to gasoline fueled vehicles (motorcycle and car). |
| Year | 2016 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Nguyen, Thi Kim Oanh; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Thammarat Koottatep;Pham, Huy Giao; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD), Germany;Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2016 |