Size-fractionated PM-bound Metals and Associated Health Risks in the Densely Populated Megacity of Southern Vietnam: A Preliminary Investigation.

Size-fractionated PM-bound Metals and Associated Health Risks in the Densely Populated Megacity of Southern Vietnam: A Preliminary Investigation. | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Size-fractionated PM-bound Metals and Associated Health Risks in the Densely Populated Megacity of Southern Vietnam: A Preliminary Investigation. Le Quoc Hau, Nguyen Duy Dat, Nhung Thi-Tuyet Hoang, Giang Tien Nguyen, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7625102/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Size-fractionated particulate matter analysis is key to understanding how particle size influences health impacts. However, data on metals distribution and respiratory deposition across PM sizes in Southeast Asia is still scarce. In this study, we evaluated the levels, size distribution, and health-related impacts of metals in particulate matter (PM) from Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the most densely populated urban in Southern Vietnam. Sampling was performed monthly with a five-stage nano-sampler (PM 10 ). Concentration of 8 metals were analyzed by ICP-MS, and the levels were observed in the following order: Al (1741 ng m − 3 ) > Fe (958 ng m − 3 ) > Zn (731 ng m − 3 ) > Pb ( 22.6 ng m − 3 ) > Mn (21.3 ng m − 3 ) > Cu (19.4 ng m − 3 ) > Ni ( 4.86 ng m − 3 ) > Cd (0.52 ng m − 3 ). Crustal metals (Al and Fe) predominantly resided in the coarse particulate fraction, whereas anthropogenic metals (e.g. Pb, Zn, and Cd) were significantly enriched in fine particles. Deposition modeling indicated that crustal metals were mostly retained in the head region (62–72%), while anthropogenic metals were deposited more in deeper lung regions (7–12%). The health risk assessment showed that the Hazard Index (HI) was markedly higher in children than in adults for both PM 2.5 and PM 10 . Specifically, the HI for children was 1.95 for PM 2.5 and 3.54 for PM 10 , whereas for adults, these values were 0.49 and 0.88, respectively. Regarding cancer risk, adult Total Cancer Risk (TCR) for children reached 1.31 10 − 5 for PM 2.5 and 1.75 10 − 5 for PM 10 , exceeding the acceptable limit. In contrast, the TCR for adults was considerably lower at 3.26 10 − 6 and 3.0 10 − 6 . These findings indicated the critical need for size-resolved PM studies to better understand exposure and the health risks posed by toxic elemental contaminants. Size-fractionated metals urban respiratory deposition health risk assessment Full Text Supplementary Files Supplementary.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7625102","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":519214087,"identity":"a0eac991-6d91-43bf-896c-11849deef0df","order_by":0,"name":"Le Quoc Hau","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Vietnam National University University of Science","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Le","middleName":"Quoc","lastName":"Hau","suffix":""},{"id":519214088,"identity":"8ac82d37-3d83-407b-a5d8-693e58e94888","order_by":1,"name":"Nguyen Duy Dat","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and 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Investigation.","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Size-fractionated, metals, urban, respiratory deposition, health risk assessment","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7625102/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7625102/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eSize-fractionated particulate matter analysis is key to understanding how particle size influences health impacts. However, data on metals distribution and respiratory deposition across PM sizes in Southeast Asia is still scarce. In this study, we evaluated the levels, size distribution, and health-related impacts of metals in particulate matter (PM) from Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the most densely populated urban in Southern Vietnam. Sampling was performed monthly with a five-stage nano-sampler (PM\u003csub\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.5\u003c/sub\u003e, PM\u003csub\u003e0.5\u0026minus;1\u003c/sub\u003e, PM\u003csub\u003e1\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2.5\u003c/sub\u003e, PM\u003csub\u003e2.5\u0026minus;10\u003c/sub\u003e, and PM\u003csub\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;10\u003c/sub\u003e). Concentration of 8 metals were analyzed by ICP-MS, and the levels were observed in the following order: Al (1741 ng m\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/sup\u003e)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Fe (958 ng m\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/sup\u003e)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Zn (731 ng m\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/sup\u003e)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Pb ( 22.6 ng m\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/sup\u003e)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Mn (21.3 ng m\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/sup\u003e)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Cu (19.4 ng m\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/sup\u003e)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Ni ( 4.86 ng m\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/sup\u003e)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Cd (0.52 ng m\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/sup\u003e). Crustal metals (Al and Fe) predominantly resided in the coarse particulate fraction, whereas anthropogenic metals (e.g. Pb, Zn, and Cd) were significantly enriched in fine particles. Deposition modeling indicated that crustal metals were mostly retained in the head region (62\u0026ndash;72%), while anthropogenic metals were deposited more in deeper lung regions (7\u0026ndash;12%). The health risk assessment showed that the Hazard Index (HI) was markedly higher in children than in adults for both PM\u003csub\u003e2.5\u003c/sub\u003e and PM\u003csub\u003e10\u003c/sub\u003e. Specifically, the HI for children was 1.95 for PM\u003csub\u003e2.5\u003c/sub\u003e and 3.54 for PM\u003csub\u003e10\u003c/sub\u003e, whereas for adults, these values were 0.49 and 0.88, respectively. Regarding cancer risk, adult Total Cancer Risk (TCR) for children reached 1.31 10\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;5\u003c/sup\u003e for PM\u003csub\u003e2.5\u003c/sub\u003e and 1.75 10\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;5\u003c/sup\u003e for PM\u003csub\u003e10\u003c/sub\u003e, exceeding the acceptable limit. In contrast, the TCR for adults was considerably lower at 3.26 10\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;6\u003c/sup\u003e and 3.0 10\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;6\u003c/sup\u003e. These findings indicated the critical need for size-resolved PM studies to better understand exposure and the health risks posed by toxic elemental contaminants.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Size-fractionated PM-bound Metals and Associated Health Risks in the Densely Populated Megacity of Southern Vietnam: A Preliminary Investigation.","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-10-06 17:52:27","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7625102/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"9c885edf-0bbf-4762-92ef-691bb092f1ec","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 6th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"decision","content":"Reject after review","date":"2026-05-12T04:54:27+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-12T22:36:58+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-10-06 17:52:27","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7625102","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7625102","identity":"rs-7625102","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}