Atmospheric Particles Research Articles

Health risk assessment to xenoestrogen through atmospheric PM2.5 particles: A case study in Suzhou.

Xenoestrogens, classified as endocrine disruptors, can be inhaled through atmospheric particles, leading to adverse health effects such as cancer and developmental abnormalities. This research focused on analysing the monthly distribution, seasonal variation, and health impacts of six target xenoestrogens (dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)), bisphenol A (BPA), and alkylphenols (nonylphenol (NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP)) in atmospheric PM2.5 at campus of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University from September 2021 to September 2023. The monthly average concentration of xenoestrogens was measured at 20 ng·m-3, while the mass concentration of PM2.5 varied between 1.75 and 217.36 μg·m-3. BPA was the predominant xenoestrogen in campus, with a peak of 126.52 ± 0.67 ng·m-3. The average concentrations of BPA, DBP and DEHP at campus were significantly higher in winter compared to summer in 2022. The non-carcinogenic risk (hazard index (HI) < 1) and carcinogenic risk (Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR)< 10-6) on non-dietary basis for all residents did not exceed the threshold limit at campus. However, the HI (2.82 ×10-5 - 3.53 ×10-3) and ILCR (1.48 ×10-12) values for infants and young children are significantly higher than other age groups, indicating a heightened risk of exposure to xenoestrogens. Given the rising global concern over air quality and its impact on public health, our work contributes valuable data that can inform policy and regulatory measures aimed at mitigating the health risks of exposure to xenoestrogen in the atmosphere.

Elucidating the size distribution of p‑Phenylenediamine-Derived quinones in atmospheric particles.

Elucidating the size distribution of p‑Phenylenediamine-Derived quinones in atmospheric particles.

Size distribution, chemical composition and influencing factors of vehicle tire wear particles based on a novel test cycle.

Size distribution, chemical composition and influencing factors of vehicle tire wear particles based on a novel test cycle.

The lifetimes and potential change in planetary albedo owing to the oxidation of thin surfactant organic films extracted from atmospheric aerosol by hydroxyl (OH) radicals at the air–water interface of particles

Abstract. Water-insoluble organic material extracted from atmospheric aerosol samples collected in urban (Royal Holloway, University of London, UK) and remote (Halley Research Station, Antarctica) locations were shown to form stable thin surfactant films at an air–water interface. These organic films reacted quickly with gas-phase OH radicals and may impact planetary albedo. The X-ray reflectivity measurements additionally indicate that the film may be consistent with having a structure with increased electron density of film molecules towards the water, suggesting amphiphilic behaviour. Assuming the material extracted from atmospheric aerosol produces thin films on aqueous particles and cloud droplets, modelling the oxidation kinetics with a kinetic model of aerosol surface and bulk chemistry (KM-SUB) suggests half-lives of minutes to an hour and values of ksurf of ∼2×10-7 and ∼5×10-5 cm2 s−1 for urban and remote aerosol film extracts, respectively. The superfluous half-lives calculated at typical OH atmospheric ambient mixing ratios are smaller than the typical residence time of atmospheric aerosols; thus, oxidation of organic material should be considered in atmospheric modelling. Thin organic films at the air–water interface of atmospheric aerosol or cloud droplets may alter the light-scattering properties of the aerosol. X-ray reflectivity measurements of atmospheric aerosol film material at the air–water interface resulted in calculated film thickness values to be either ∼10 or ∼17 Å for remote or urban aerosol extracts, respectively, and oxidation did not remove the films completely. One-dimensional radiative transfer modelling suggests the oxidation of thin organic films on atmospheric particles by OH radicals may reduce the planetary albedo by a small, but potentially significant, amount.

Characteristics of spatial and temporal evolution and coupling relationships between urbanization and atmospheric particulate matter in the Qianzhong urban agglomeration

The summary has been revised as follows: In karst regions, the relationship between urbanization and atmospheric particulate matter is crucial for mitigating air pollution. Previous studies often focused on single-perspective discussions, lacking comprehensive multi-perspective analyses. Based on multi-source remote sensing data from 2000 to 2022 for the Qianzhong urban agglomeration (QUA)), we constructed the normalized principal component urbanization index (NPCUI) and normalized principal component atmospheric particulate matter index (NPCAIPM) to delve into the spatiotemporal coupling relationship between the urbanization and atmospheric particulate matter. The results demonstrate that NPCUI and NPCAIPM offer a more comprehensive and precise representation of urbanization processes and particulate matter concentrations compared to traditional single indicators. Since the implementation of the Western Development Strategy in 2011, urbanization indicators in Guizhou have shown significant growth, with PM2.5 and PM10 levels increasing by 75.78% and 55.87%, respectively. These findings illustrate industrialization's and urban expansion's effects on air quality. Integrating perspectives from geography, systematics, and physics, we discovered complex spatiotemporal coupling dynamics between urbanization and atmospheric particulates. Coordination has improved over time, but regional differences remain evident. This study provides critical insights and a scientific basis for addressing atmospheric particulate pollution during the urbanization process in karst regions, emphasizing the importance of high-quality coordinated development.

Monitoring the Spectral Back Scattering of Lodged Dry-direct Seeded Rice by Temporal Sentinel - I Data

The study was conducted from June, 2020 to January, 2021 in two villages namely; Chinna Tandrapadu and Mandoddi of Ieeja Mandal, Gadwal district, Telangana, India to assess the lodged crop using the sentinel-I data with two polarizations and two cross polarisations backscatter values. The two major methods were direct Seeding and transplanting. In direct-seeded rice, seeds were directly sown in the field, the plants did not have deep root penetration and were susceptible to crop lodging, a major problem during the flowering and grain-filling stages, leading to crop loss and damage during the monsoon season. The area under the crop was estimated using remote sensing, which provided real-time, reliable, and quick information. Microwave data with its longer wavelength (1 mm to 100 mm) could penetrate through clouds and other atmospheric particles, and hence its usage in monitoring rice ecosystems gained importance. In this study, Sentinel-1A images were utilized for analysis. The multi-temporal C-band dual-polarization VV, VH, and their combinations VV VH-1 and VH VV-1 backscattering values were studied throughout the crop growth period. The backscatter values obtained from the crop during the growth stages were analyzed using the paired t-test. It revealed that the flowering, dough, and maturity stages were the periods when the lodged crop could be discriminated from the unlodged crop at the VV and VH polarizations. The band cross-combinations VV VH-1 and VH VV-1 were not able to discriminate the lodged crop.

Torques on curved atmospheric fibers

Small particles are transported over long distances in the atmosphere, with significant environmental impact. The transport of symmetric particles is well understood, but atmospheric particles, such as curved microplastic fibers or ash particles, are generally asymmetric. This makes the description of their transport properties uncertain. Here, we derive a model of how planar curved fibers settle in quiescent air. The model explains that fluid-inertia torques may align such fibers at oblique angles with gravity as seen in recent laboratory experiments, and shows that inertial alignment is a general and thus important factor for the transport of atmospheric particles. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Experimental Confirmation of van der Waals-Enhanced Growth of Sulfuric Acid/Water Nanoparticles.

Since the size of an atmospheric particle determines many of its effects, we conducted experiments to better understand their rate of growth. Seed particles composed of sulfuric acid and water were exposed to photolytically generated H2SO4 molecules and their change in size was monitored with a mobility particle system. H2SO4 production rates were held steady while the seed particle diameter was varied from 3 to 25 nm to explore how growth is affected by size. The growth rate of 25 nm diameter particles was about 50% less than that for 3 nm diameter particles. Gas-kinetic hard-sphere growth rates decline only 18% over this size range, but a decrease of 35-to-50% in growth over this range is expected according to theories that include the effects of a van der Waals interaction between gaseous H2SO4 and the small particles. The size-dependence of the measured growth rates, which does not require knowledge of the H2SO4 gas concentration, suggests that the attractive force between hydrated H2SO4 and small sulfuric acid particles leads to a significant enhancement of the collision rate; this force depends strongly on particle size below 10 nm in diameter. Recent calculations based on a central field approximation for the van der Waals interaction are consistent with the measurements, although empirical enhancement factors better explain the data for some conditions. Nucleation experiments were also performed with H2SO4 detection, and simulations of these nucleation experiments required similar van der Waals enhancements to secure agreement between measured H2SO4 vapor and the size of the nucleated particles.

Contribution of Ship Emissions to Aerosol Number Concentrations: Parameterization of Plume‐Scale Nonlinear Microphysics and Application

AbstractShips are an important source of tiny atmospheric particles over oceans capable of affecting clouds, and the change of ship fuel sulfur has been suggested to reduce particle cooling effects. Number concentrations and sizes of emitted particles are critical for assessing the climate and health impacts of shipping emissions. Here, we build the direct ship particle number (SPN) emission inventory and further propose a computationally efficient approach (look‐up table, EIPN) to estimate particle number emission by accounting for the subgrid process of ship plumes. In the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) coastal area along East China Sea, the total ship particle number emission estimated based on EIPN is 7.3 × 1023 particles with the values of 5.9 × 1024 particles predicted by the SPN, showing a notable overestimation by a factor of ∼8 (compared to EIPN). The particle number and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) under 0.4% water supersaturation (CCN0.4) conducted utilizing the EIPN with normalized mean biases (NMB) of −13.1% and −28.6% exhibit higher concordance with observations than those using the conventional mass emission inventory (NMB = −37.7%, −44.9%) and SPN (NMB = −57.4%, −72.2%), demonstrating the significant improvement in 3‐D models. Ship‐related particles have large spatiotemporal variations, and their contribution to CCN is driven by secondary particles. Our results support the influence of ship emissions on coastal air aerosols and CCN and highlight the importance of accounting for ship plume subgrid processes.

Modelling oxidative potential of atmospheric particle: A 2-year study over France.

Modelling oxidative potential of atmospheric particle: A 2-year study over France.

Characteristics of Water-soluble Ions in Atmospheric Particulates in Farmland in the Suburb of Nanjing

Water-soluble ions are an important component of atmospheric particles. However, there has been limited research on water-soluble inorganic ions in atmospheric particulates in agricultural areas until now. In this study, the characteristics of eight water-soluble inorganic ions （Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, NO3-, SO42-, and Cl-） in different sizes of atmospheric particulates （&gt;9.0, 5.8-9.0, 4.7-5.8, 3.3-4.7, 2.1-3.3, 1.1-2.1, 0.65-1.1, 0.43-0.65, and &lt;0.43 μm） were analyzed by sampling farmland in the suburb of Nanjing from December 2020 to November 2021. The results showed that the annual mass concentrations of total suspended particulate matter （TSP）, &lt; 9.0 μm and &lt; 2.1 μm particulates were 54.73, 49.04, and 27.35 μg·m-3, respectively, all of which reached the national secondary standards. The mass concentration of &lt; 2.1 μm particulates accounted for 50.0% of TSP, indicating that fine particles were the main components of atmospheric particulates in this area. The concentration of water-soluble inorganic ions in different sizes of particulates was highest in autumn, followed by those in spring/summer and winter. SO42- was the primary contributor among all seasons and particle sizes, accounting for 30.6%-66.5%. The ratio of SO42-/NO3- was much higher than 1, indicating that the contribution of fixed-source pollution played a dominant role in the study area. Moreover, SOR （SO2 gas-particle conversion rate） in different particle sizes was less than 0.1 only at individual times in winter, indicating that SO42- was mainly derived from the secondary oxidation of SO2 in the study area. Significant positive correlations （P &lt; 0.05） between SOR and temperature were observed except for 4.7-5.8 μm particulates, indicating that the increase in temperature significantly promoted the photochemical formation process of SO42- in particles with different sizes. However, the relationship between SOR and relative humidity was significant only in fine particulates smaller than 2.1 μm （P &lt; 0.05）, indicating that the liquid phase reaction was an important pathway for the formation of SO42- in fine particles. Principal component analysis was used to analyze the sources of water-soluble inorganic ions in particulates. Moreover, it showed that water-soluble inorganic ions in fine particulates mainly came from the secondary transformation of SO2, while those in the coarse particles mainly came from the soil dust during farmland tillage. The results of this study are of great significance for understanding the characteristics of water-soluble inorganic ion pollution in atmospheric particulate matter in agricultural areas. They provide a reference for understanding the source and formation mechanisms of atmospheric particulate matter pollution in agricultural areas near Nanjing.

Lidar estimates of birch pollen number, mass, and CCN-related concentrations

Abstract. The accurate representation of microphysical properties of atmospheric aerosol particles – such as the number, mass, and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentration – is key to constraining climate forcing estimations and improving weather and air quality forecasts. Lidars capable of vertically resolving aerosol optical properties have been increasingly utilized to study aerosol–cloud interactions, allowing for estimations of cloud-relevant microphysical properties. Recently, lidars have been employed to identify and monitor pollen particles in the atmosphere, an understudied aerosol particle with health and possibly climate implications. Lidar remote sensing of pollen is an emerging research field, and in this study, we present for the first time retrievals of particle number, mass, CCN, giant CCN (GCCN), and ultragiant CCN (UGCCN) concentration estimations of birch pollen derived from polarization lidar observations and specifically from a PollyXT lidar and a Vaisala CL61 ceilometer at 532 and 910 nm, respectively. A pivotal role in these estimations is played by the conversion factors necessary to convert the optical measurements into microphysical properties. This set of conversion parameters for birch pollen is derived from in situ observations of major birch pollen events at Vehmasmäki station in eastern Finland. The results show that under well-mixed conditions, surface measurements from in situ instrumentation can be correlated with lidar observations at higher altitudes to estimate the conversion factors. Better linear agreement to the in situ observations was found at the longer wavelength of 910 nm, which is attributed to a combination of lower overlap and higher sensitivity to bigger particles compared to observations at 532 nm. Then, the conversion factors are applied to ground-based lidar observations and compared against in situ measurements of aerosol and pollen particles. In turn, this demonstrates the potential of ground-based lidars such as a ceilometer network with the polarization capacity to document large-scale birch pollen outbursts in detail and thus to provide valuable information for climate, cloud, and air quality modeling efforts, elucidating the role of pollen within the atmospheric system.

Atmospheric Estrogenic Semi-Volatile Compounds and PAH in PM2.5 in Mexico City

The quantification of semi-volatile organic compounds with potential endocrine-disrupting activity contained in fine atmospheric particles (PM2.5) is essential to understand their temporal behavior, identify their sources, and evaluate the health risks resulting from population exposure to said compounds. Since information and research outcomes regarding their presence in the atmosphere in developing countries are scarce, the main objective of this work was the development of a methodology devoted to extracting, characterizing, and quantifying, for the first time in Mexico, the concentration levels of three important groups of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) bonded to PM2.5 and collected during a year, namely: alkylphenols (4-n-nonylphenol (4NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (4tOP)); bisphenols (bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol F (BPF)); natural and synthetic hormones (17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3) and 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2)). Further, priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that also disrupt endocrine activity were analyzed. All compounds were determined by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, and the concentration levels were analyzed for different climatic seasons. Cold-dry (CD) season displayed higher levels of 4NP, bisphenols, and hormones (between 0.71 (4NP) and 1860 pg m−3 (BPA)), as well as PAH concentrations (9.12 ng m−3). Regarding health effects, concentrations of alkylphenols, bisphenols, and hormones quantified had a value of estradiol equivalent concentration (EEQE2) between 0.07 and 0.17 ng m−3. PAH concentrations did not have carcinogenic and mutagenic risk with BaP(PEQ) &lt; 1 ng m−3. These results can be used by policymakers in the design of strategies for air pollution control.

Advancing Source Apportionment of Atmospheric Particles: Integrating Morphology, Size, and Chemistry Using Electron Microscopy Technology and Machine Learning.

To further reduce atmospheric particulate matter concentrations, there is a need for a more precise identification of their sources. The SEM-EDS technology (scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) can provide high-resolution imaging and detailed compositional analysis for particles with relatively stable physical and chemical properties. This study introduces an advanced source apportionment pipeline (RX model) that uniquely combines computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy with computer vision and machine learning to trace particle sources by integrating single-particle morphology, size, and chemical information. In the evaluation using a virtual data set with known source contributions, the RX model demonstrated high accuracy, with average errors of 0.60% for particle number and 1.97% for mass contribution. Compared to the chemical mass balance model, the RX model's accuracy and stability improved by 75.6 and 73.4%, respectively, and proved effective in tracing Fe-containing particles in the atmosphere of a steel city in China. This study indicates that particle morphology can serve as an effective feature for determining its source. The findings highlight the potential of electron microscopy technology coupled with computer vision and machine learning techniques to enhance our understanding of atmospheric pollution sources, offering valuable insights for PM health risk assessment and evidence-based policy-making.

Evaluation of an aquatic liverwort and terrestrial moss as biomonitors of heavy metals associated with particulate matter

In this study, the capacity of the aquatic liverwort Ricciocarpus natans L. and the terrestrial moss Entodon serrulatus Mitt. as biomonitors of heavy metals associated with particulate matter from a highly polluted urban area was evaluated, and concentrations in moss tissues were correlated with concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 present in the atmosphere. The two species were exposed by the moss bag technique to the pollution of the Toluca Valley Metropolitan Area (TVMA) for two periods of 6 months, using the sites of the Automatic Atmospheric Monitoring Network of the Government of the State of Mexico, and were subsequently analyzed using elemental and structural characterization techniques. The results show that mainly the functional groups -OH and -NH, N-H and C-O on the surface of the liverwort and moss participate in the adsorption of heavy elements. The average enrichment factors of Cd and Pb show to be highly enriched (> 10) in the study area while chromium is not enriched (< 2). The statistical results indicate a temporary variation in the concentration of metals and particles in the atmosphere, where there is a lower concentration of these pollutants in the rainy and dry-cold season and a higher concentration in the dry-hot season and a possible association of Cr and Cd with PM10 and PM2.5. In addition, except for Cr, both species accumulate the metals associated with airborne particulate matter at equivalent levels. There is strong association between PM2.5 and PM10 particles and between the metals Cr-Pb-Fe in R. natans and between PM2.5-PM10 and Fe and between Cd-Cr-Pb in E. serrulatus and these pollutants are mainly associated with sampling sites with the highest concentrations of metals in the TVMA. Although terrestrial moss showed slightly better characteristics than aquatic liverwort as a biomonitor of heavy metals associated with atmospheric particles, these differences were not statistically significant for all metals, so both species could be useful for heavy metal biomonitoring in highly polluted urban areas.

Methods for Analyzing Avionics Reliability Reflecting Atmospheric Radiation in the Preliminary Development Phase: An Integrated Failure Rate Analysis

Advances in deep submicron semiconductor technology have increased the significance of studying soft errors caused by atmospheric radiation in avionics systems. Atmospheric radiation particles, such as protons and neutrons, can induce Single Event Upsets (SEUs) in sensitive electronic components, leading to system malfunctions and data corruption. Traditional reliability analysis based on older IC or LSI components may fail to account for radiation-induced effects. However, modern avionics systems equipped with state-of-the-art VLSI components are increasingly susceptible to Single Event Upsets (SEUs), potentially leading to underestimated failure rates in these advanced systems. This study introduces an integrated failure rate analysis that incorporates both the physics of failure rates resulting from aging and wear-out and soft error rates induced by atmospheric radiation. The proposed failure rate analysis of the reliability of avionics operating at altitudes of up to 18 km by combining the physics of failure rates with radiation-induced failure rates was derived using a semi-empirical SEU estimation method. Case studies using the Zynq 7000 board, sourced from AMD (San Jose, CA, USA), confirmed that the integrated failure rate analysis provides more accurate reliability predictions compared to conventional analysis. This approach is expected to improve the accuracy of safety assessments during the preliminary development stages, leading to a shortened development timeline and enhanced design quality.

New electrochemical approach for assessing surface tension and its role in atmospheric particle growth

New electrochemical approach for assessing surface tension and its role in atmospheric particle growth

The semi-solid phase of atmospheric particles facilitates the formation of secondary brown carbon: Possible contribution of ionic strength to Maillard-like reactions

The semi-solid phase of atmospheric particles facilitates the formation of secondary brown carbon: Possible contribution of ionic strength to Maillard-like reactions

Direct calibration using atmospheric particles and performance evaluation of Particle Size Magnifier (PSM) 2.0 for sub-10 nm particle measurements

Abstract. The Particle Size Magnifier is widely used for measuring nano-sized particles. Here we calibrated the newly developed Particle Size Magnifier version 2.0 (PSM 2.0). We used 1–10 nm particles with different compositions, including metal particles, organic particles generated in the laboratory, and atmospheric particles collected in Helsinki and Hyytiälä. A noticeable difference among the calibration curves was observed. Atmospheric particles from Hyytiälä required higher diethylene glycol (DEG) supersaturation to be activated compared to metal particles (standard calibration particles) and other types of particles. This suggests that chemical composition differences introduce measurement uncertainties and highlights the importance of in situ calibration. The size resolution of PSM 2.0 was characterized using metal particles. The maximum size resolution was observed at 2–3 nm. PSM 2.0 was then operated in Hyytiälä for ambient particle measurements in parallel with a Half Mini differential mobility particle sizer (DMPS). During new particle formation (NPF) events, comparable total particle concentrations were observed between the Half Mini DMPS and PSM 2.0 based on Hyytiälä atmospheric particle calibration. Meanwhile, applying the calibration with metal particles to atmospheric measurements caused an overestimation of 3–10 nm particles. In terms of the particle size distributions, similar patterns were observed between the DMPS and PSM when using the calibration of Hyytiälä atmospheric particles. In summary, PSM 2.0 is a powerful instrument for measuring sub-10 nm particles and can achieve more precise particle size distribution measurements with proper calibration.

Characteristics and analysis of PM2.5 particles in a light-polluted atmosphere in winter

To study the micro-morphological characteristics of PM2.5 and its effect on ambient air quality, a 7500F scanning electron microscope (SEM) was utilized in this study to examine the micromorphology and elemental composition of PM2.5 and its impact on ambient air quality during heavily polluted weather in Yining City in the winter of 2018–2019. The results revealed the presence of numerous large solid shapes, small strip shapes, and a few irregular shapes. Additionally, the quantity of PM2.5 particles adsorbed on the glass fiber filter membrane was high, indicating a significant impact of PM2.5 particles on the urban area. Based on the analysis of particulate matter, heating time, and environmental conditions of samples during the winter heating season, it was concluded that the PM2.5 sample is rich in N, S, P, C, Na, Ge, Rb, Zn, Fe, Mg, Al, Mo, Pt, and Pb. The findings suggest that the urban area is predominantly influenced by industrial dust, road dust, construction cement dust, vehicle exhaust dust, and coal combustion during winter heating. The analysis and evaluation of the sample data indicate that PM2.5 in the urban area is influenced by human activities.