Size-resolved particle oxidative potential in the office, laboratory, and home: Evidence for the importance of water-soluble transition metals

Abstract

Particulate matter (PM) oxidative potential (OP) is an emerging health metric, but studies examining the OP of indoor PM are rare. This paper focuses on the relationships between respiratory exposure to OP and PM water-soluble composition in indoor environments. Size-resolved PM samples were collected between November 2015 and June 2016 from an office, home (including bedroom, living room, and storeroom), and laboratory using a MOUDI sampler. Particles from each source were segregated into eleven size bins, and the water-soluble metal content and dithiothreitol (DTT) loss rate were measured in each PM extract. The water-soluble OP (OPws) of indoor PM was highest in the office and lowest in the home, varying by factors of up to 1.2; these variations were attributed to differences in occupation density, occupant activity, and ventilation. In addition, the particulate Cu, Mn, and Fe concentrations were closely correlated with OPws in indoor particles; the transition metals may have acted as catalysts during oxidation processes, inducing ·OH formation through the concomitant consumption of DTT. The OPws particle size distributions featured single modes with peaks between 0.18 and 3.2 μm across all indoor sites, reflecting the dominant contribution of PM3.2 to total PM levels and the enhanced oxidative activity of the PM3.2 compared to PM>3.2. Lung-deposition model calculations indicated that PM3.2 dominated the pulmonary deposition of the OPws (>75%) due to both the high levels of metals content and the high deposition efficiency in the alveolar region. Therefore, because OPws has been directly linked to various health effects, special attention should be given to PM3.2.