Abstract: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), and 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE) are typical brominated flame retardants (BFRs), which were widely added to polymeric and textile materials to meet fire safety requirements. PBDEs (including commercial penta-, octa-, and deca-BDE mixtures) have been classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention, while DBDPE and BTBPE are considered as PBDE replacements. In the present study, concentrations of PBDEs (major congeners of technical PBDE mixtures such as BDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183, 197, 207, and 209), DBDPE, and BTBPE were simultaneously analyzed in settled dust samples collected from e-waste and end-of-life vehicle (ELV) processing areas in northern Vietnam. The dust samples were extracted by using an ultrasonic processor subsequently by acetone and acetone/hexane (1:1) mixture for 10 min each time. The dust extract was treated with concentrated sulfuric acid and activated silica gel to remove interferences. BFRs were analyzed by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) equipped with a DB-5ht column. The mass spectrometer was operated at electron capture negative ionization (ECNI) and selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Concentrations of total PBDEs, DBDPE, and BTBPE ranged from 77 to 240,000 (median 6000), from 〈 20 to 240,000 (median 5500), and from 〈 10 to 9200 (median 160) ng/g, respectively. Concentrations of BFRs in the e-waste dust were significantly higher than those measured in the ELV dust, suggesting e-waste processing activities as potential sources of BFRs in dust. Among BFRs analyzed, BDE-209 and DBDPE were the most predominant compounds, implying intensive application of deca-BDE mixtures and alternative formulations.

Abstract: In this study, a rapid analytical method was developed and validated for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers PBDEs in house dust samples. The dust sample was solvent extracted by using a focused ultrasonic processor with reduced extraction time (total 30 min/sample) and solvent volume (about 30 mL/sample). The crude extract was purified by passing through a self-packed multilayer column containing 44% sulfuric acid impregnated silica gel, Florisil, and anhydrous sodium sulfate. PBDEs were eluted from the clean-up column by a mixture of dichloromethane in hexane (1:3,…). PBDEs (41 mono- to deca-BDE congeners) were analyzed by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with negative chemical ionization (NCI) and selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The analytical method was validated by using procedural blank, matrix-spike, and standard reference material (SRM) samples. Recoveries of PBDEs in spiked samples ranged from 65% to 120%. Analytical results of the SRM 2585 (Organic Contaminants in House Dust, National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA) indicate method accuracy with ratios of measured to certified values of almost compounds ranging from 76% to 110%. All the experiments were conducted in duplicate, showing acceptable repeatability (RSD 〈 15%). This method can be applied for simultaneous determination of mono- to deca-BDE congeners in dust samples at ppb to ppm levels with several advantages such as simple, rapid, accurate, cost-effective, and reducing amounts of chemicals and solvents.

Abstract: In this study, the gas–particle distribution characteristics and emission sources of phthalate esters (PAEs) and volatile methyl siloxanes (VMSs) were evaluated for indoor air samples collected from different micro-environments such as homes, offices, kindergartens, hair salons, laboratories, and cars in 4 cities and provinces of Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Thai Binh, and Tuyen Quang, northern Vietnam. In general, total concentrations of PAEs and VMSs were higher in gas phase as compared to particle phase; however, phase distribution profiles of individual compounds were strongly related to their structures and physicochemical properties. For examples, low-molecular-weight compounds such as dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, D3, D4, L4, and L5 were more abundant in gas phase, while heavier compounds like di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and L8 were preferentially associated with particle phase. Assessment of PAE emission sources is relatively difficult because they have been applied in different consumer products and materials. Significant correlation between cyclic VMSs (e.g., D4, D5, and D6) was observed, suggesting their applications in cosmetics and personal care products. Keywords: Phthalate esters, volatile methyl siloxanes, indoor air, phase distribution, source apportionment.  

Abstract: Concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in settled house dust and road dust samples collected from a core urban area of Hanoi. Levels of PAHs ranged from 830 to 3500 (median 2000) ng/g in house dust, and from 1400 to 4700 (median 1700) ng/g in road dust. Concentrations of PAHs in dust samples of this study were within the moderate range as compared with those from other countries in the world. Toxic equivalents to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP-EQs) in our samples ranged from 81 to 850 (median 330) ng BaP-EQ/g with principal contributors as BaP and dibenz[a,h] anthracene, which accounted for 69% to 93% of BaP-EQs. In almost all the samples, proportions of high-molecular-weight PAHs (HMW-PAHs with 4–6 rings) were higher than those of low-molecular-weight PAHs (LMW-PAHs with 2–3 rings), suggesting emission sources from combustion processes rather than direct contamination by petrogenic sources. 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Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are typical organic pollutants of great concern due to their negative impacts on environmental and human health. The less polar and hydrophobic nature of PAHs is responsible for their ability to adsorb onto suspended particles and to accumulate in sediments. In this study, surface sediment samples were collected in the South Central Coast of Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam to determine concentrations of 16 PAHs. The sediment samples were directly ultrasound extracted with a mixture of acetone/hexane (1:1) and toluene. The extract was purified on a chromatographic column containing activated silica gel with dichloromethane/hexane (1:3) as elution solvent. PAHs were separated and quantified on a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system with a DB-5ms column. The MS detector was operated in electron impact ionization (EI) mode and ion selective monitoring (SIM) mode. Levels of 16 PAHs ranged from 33.1 to 196 (mean 80.0) nanograms per gram sediment (ng/g). In all sediment samples, proportions of high molecular weight PAHs (4-6 rings, 63–88%) were higher than those of low molecular weight PAHs (2-3 rings, 12–37%), indicating that emission sources are mainly related to thermal processes rather than petroleum products. The most predominant substances were: Pyr (14% ± 3%), Flt (12% ± 3%), Phe (10% ± 3%), Chr (9% ± 2%), and BaP (9% ± 3%). Further studies on the pollution status of PAHs and their derivatives in Vietnamese marine environments are essential.

Abstract: Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) including 43 congeners of 10 homologs were determined in settled dust samples collected from urban houses and end-of-life vehicle (ELV) processing workshops in northern Vietnam. Concentrations of total 43 PCBs (ΣPCBs), 7 indicator PCBs (IN-PCBs), and 12 dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) in the ELV workshop dusts were significantly higher than those measured in the urban house dusts, suggesting ELV processing activities as potential sources of PCBs. However, concentrations of PCB-11 (3,3’-dichlorobiphenyl) in the urban house dusts (mean 4.5; range 1.2–8.7 ng/g) were markedly higher than levels found in the ELV workshop dusts (1.6; 0.46–5.4 ng/g). PCB-11 is a novel congener because it is only a trace component of technical PCB mixtures but identified as a major impurity of many organic pigments, especially diarylide yellow pigments. PCB patterns of the ELV workshop dusts were dominated by penta- and hexa-PCBs with major congeners as PCB-118, -138, -153, -110, and -101, which were also principal components of technical formulations such as Aroclor 1254, Kanechlor 500, and Sovol. Meanwhile, PCB-11 served as the most predominant congener detected in the urban house dusts, implying current emissions from paints and pigmented products; however, this point should be confirmed by further studies on the occurrence of PCBs in Vietnamese commercial products. Apart from PCB-11, the urban house dusts also contained elevated proportions of penta- and hexa-PCBs, suggesting residues from electrical equipment application in the past. Our results indicate that even though PCBs are legacy and banned chemicals, their presence has been observed in indoor environments due to their persistent nature and novel emission sources. Further studies on the occurrence and emission behavior of these pollutants should be conducted, including not only congeners in technical mixtures but also unintentionally produced compounds.

Abstract: The group of protein drugs has been developing very strongly, promising great advances in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and human health improvement. Protein drug production is a large area of research, requiring advanced scientific and technological expertise, and integration of multi-disciplinary technology from fields such as biology, genetics, biotechnology, protein extraction and purification, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. As protein drug manufacture involves biosynthesis processes using different cell lines, biopharmaceuticals have some distinct characteristics from small-molecule synthetic drugs, such as variability of biological processes, diversity of synthetic proteins, therefore leading to some differences in research and development, approval procedures, bioactivity testing, quality control and quality assurance and the production of “generic” biopharmaceuticals - biosimilars. This article provides an overview of protein drug production from the initial stage to the finished product process, to identify and promote training activities, research and development, and knowledge transfer, contributing to the development of the biopharmaceutical industry in Vietnam, as well as effectively applying the drugs in clinical practice. Protein drug production is a valuable industrial field, with the goal of not only protecting and taking care of people's health but also developing national research, manufacturing, scientific and technological capacity, and bringing economic value. Keywords: Protein drug, biopharmaceuticals, formulation, biosimilars.