Methylated and unsubstituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in street dust from Vietnam and India: Occurrence, distribution and in vitro toxicity evaluation

Methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MePAHs), unsubstituted PAHs and AhR-mediated activities were determined in street dust collected from Vietnam and India using a combined approach of chemical analysis and in vitro reporter gene assay. MePAHs and PAHs diagnostic ratios indicated that the main sources of MePAHs in Vietnam were pyrogenic emissions, whereas in India there were mixed sources of pyrogenic and petrogenic emissions. AhR-mediated activities determined by using DR-CALUX assay were observed in urban street dust at mean 40, 29 and 20 ng CALUX-TEQ/g dw for Hanoi, Bangalore and New Delhi, respectively. MePAHs and PAHs contributed only 5% or less to AhR-mediated activity in street dust, indicating the occurrence of unknown AhR agonists. The principal contributors to Theoretical-TEQs among target compounds were methyl benz[a]anthracene, benzo[b]- and benzo[k]fluoranthene. The present study indicates importance of MePAHs in evaluation of toxic risk related to AhR-mediated activity in urban polluted areas. •MePAHs and PAHs contributed only 3–5% to AhR-mediated activities in street dust.•MeBaAs and BbF + BkF were major contributors to AhR-mediated activities in street dust.•The pyrogenic combustion was the major MePAHs sources in Vietnam.•Pyrogenic and petrogenic sources were major MePAHs sources in India.•Exposure to PAHs in street dust may pose high cancer risk for local residents. Methyl benz[a]anthracene, benzo[b]- and benzo[k]fluoranthene were major contributors to AhR-mediated activities in street dust from Vietnam and India.