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Occurrence of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products in River System in the North of Vietnam

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Abstract:

This study evaluated the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the rivers and lakes in the North of Vietnam. Surface water samples from rivers and lakes were collected to determine PPCP concentrations. The analysis results showed that the total concentration of PPCPs in river water samples ranged from 23.6 to 772 ng/L, while in lake water samples, it ranged from 36.2 to 1004 ng/L. Caffeine was the most abundant compound, and antibiotics were the predominant therapeutic class, with sulfamethoxazole having the highest concentration, followed by lincomycin. Along the rivers, there was a trend of PPCP accumulation downstream. The level of PPCPs was affected by population density and proximity to discharge sources. The highest levels of PPCPs were observed after the river flowed through major cities like Hanoi and Thai Nguyen. PPCP levels were lower during the rainy season compared to the dry season. A semi-quantitative risk quotient (RQ) assessment indicated a high ecological risk to algae at in lakes and at the downstream sites of rivers.

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Periodical:

Engineering Headway (Volume 40)

Pages:

105-117

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4028/p-i68Biz

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Online since:

July 2026

Authors:

Dieu Anh Van, Huy Thanh Ngo, Hai Trung Huynh*

Keywords:

Ecological Risk, Northern Vietnam, PPCPs, Surface Water

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© 2026 Trans Tech Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved

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