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• Personal exposure to PM 2.5 and BC in Danang(Vietnam) and Singapore was assessed. • Exposure to PM 2.5 and BC by commuters was much higher in Danang than Singapore. • Exposure to PM 2.5 and BC in homes should also be considered. • Heavy-duty vehicles and motorcycles are the major contributors to PM in both cities. • Health effects of motorized transport can be avoided by switching to active mobility. The present study investigated the personal exposure (PE) of commuters to fine particles (PM 2.5) and black carbon (BC) in two cities: Singapore and Danang (Vietnam) with different socio-economic conditions. The PE measurement was conducted during a multimodal round trip from Singapore to Danang and back with various on-road transport modes in urban micro-environments within each city by using portable devices. Real-time assessment of PE revealed that more than 60% of the integrated inhaled dose of PM 2.5 by commuters to occurred at airport concourses and transit micro-environments to/from the aeroplane by apron bus. Whereas for BC, the transit by apron bus made a major contribution (> 50%) to the total integrated exposure. The PE to PM 2.5 and BC in transport micro-environments was an order of magnitude higher in Danang compared to Singapore while using various on-road modes of transport in each city. Elevated concentrations of airborne particles in Singapore and Danang were significantly contributed by heavy-duty diesel vehicles and motorcycles, respectively. Moreover, a reduction in years of life expectancy is likely to occur among urban commuters while using motorized transport compared to active mobility (cycling). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation aims to assess the levels of human exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) in various locations of a natural stone quarry for the first time based on simultaneous measurements of both PM mass and number concentrations (PMC and PNC). A quarry located in Danang city, Vietnam, considered to be a "hotspot" of air pollution in the city, was selected for detailed investigations. Both PMC and PNC were found to be significantly higher (1.2–6.0 times) within the quarry compared to surrounding areas. Mechanical activities during mining, notably crushing, screening, hauling, and loading stones, contributed to increased emissions of PM in the coarser mode (1–10 μm) compared to the accumulation mode (0.1–1 μm) and thus increased deposition of PM 1-10 in the human upper respiratory tract. In contrast, combustion activities, especially the diesel engine exhaust from various machines and vehicles used in the quarry, resulted in increased emissions of small particles in the accumulation mode that dominated the PNC and in their deposition in the lower respiratory tract. Simultaneous measurements of PNC and PMC revealed that the PM counts were strongly associated with PM deposition in the alveolar region (accounting for ≈ 76% of total PNC of particles less than 10 μm, N 10), while the PM mass concentration was a better indicator of the deposition of PM in the head airway region (≈92% of total PMC of PM 10). Overall, this study demonstrates the significance of measuring both PNC and PMC to assess PM exposure levels, regional respiratory doses, and potential health effects associated with human exposure to PM generated from stone quarrying activities. The novelty of this work is the integration of real-time mass and number concentrations of PM over the size range from 20 nm to 10 μm to provide insights into respiratory deposited doses of size-fractionated PM among quarry workers. • Exposure to PM in specific locations of a natural stone quarry was investigated. • PM mass and number concentrations were significantly high within the quarry. • Mining activities increased the deposition dose of PM in the respiratory tract. • Smaller particles, likely emitted from diesel exhaust, dominated PM counts. • Quarry workers face an increased health risk because of inhalation exposure to PM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]