PHAM THI THANH NHAN AND VU DUC TOAN
Abstract
This study investigated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in dust emissions Associated with construction activities at a representative high-rise construction site in Hanoi. Dust samples were collected from six locations using passive air samplers equipped with polyurethane foam (PUF) disks, and the 16 priority PAHs were subsequently quantified by gas chromatographyâ mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Total ?16PAH concentrations ranged from 18.62 to 39.72 ng/m³, with a clear spatial pattern in contamination levels: concentrations were highest in the central zone (mean: 34.22 ng/m³) and decreased toward the site perimeter (mean: 25.52 ng/m³). The PAH profile was dominated by low- and medium-molecular-weight compounds containing 2â4 aromatic rings. Source diagnostic ratios suggested that PAHs predominantly originated from combustion-related processes, consistent with the intensive operation of construction machinery and transport vehicles powered by gasoline and diesel at the site. These findings provide an empirical basis for improving risk control and environmental management at high-rise construction projects in urban areas.