Assessment of airborne PCDD/FS and DL-PCBS pollution and health risks through inhalation

This study monitored concentrations of polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and dioxin- like polychlorobiphenyls (dl-PCBs) in ambient air in five urban residential areas of Da Nang City from 2021 to 2024. Health risks were assessed and risks of dioxin exposure by inhalation were compared between the Thanh Khe (TK) study area – adjacent to the former dioxin hotspot inside Da Nang Airport (DNA) – and the Son Tra (ST) control area. Pollution levels and exposure risks in the residential areas correlated with wind direction and distance from DNA. The total toxic equivalents (ΣTEQs) in the TK study group (59.3–1235 fg TEQ/PUF/day) were 2.2 times higher on average than in the ST control group (59.9–151 fg TEQ/PUF/day). The average daily doses through inhalation in the TK group (4.84–400 fg TEQ/kg BW/day) remained within and reached the maximum extrapolated 10 % of the tolerable daily intake, but health risks from residing near hotspots were higher than in the ST group (4.88–48.9 fg TEQ/kg BW/day). It is necessary to establish solutions to manage environmental health risks and to prevent and mitigate exposure to dioxin remnants from the war. It is extremey important to maintain pollution control combined with communication activities and raising public awareness about exposure routes and preventive measures.