Composition Of PM2 Research Articles

Contrasts in chemical composition and oxidative potential in PM10 near flares in oil extraction and refining areas in Ecuador

For decades, oil extraction in rural sites in the North Amazon Region (NAR) in Ecuador, have generated mixtures of potentially toxic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metal(loid)s. The main national refinery and the thermal power plant located in Esmeraldas, on the North Pacific Coast (NPC), are also considered as important sources of air contamination. Particulate matter (PM10) emitted at both sites could induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the lungs upon inhalation and could be associated with respiratory diseases. In this study, PM10 mass composition was monitored over a two-year period in both regions: NAR (close to oil platforms and open flares) and NPC (in a public school close to the refinery). PM10 composition was assessed in terms of metal(loid)s, organic and elementary carbon (OC, EC), monosaccharides (levoglucosan, mannosan, galactosan), glucose, polyols (sorbitol, mannitol, arabitol), water soluble ions and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs, oxy-PAHs and nitro-PAHs). Additionally, three complementary biochemical and acellular tests were performed to evaluate the oxidative potential (OP).Results show that the PM10 mass and elemental concentrations were higher in NPC than in NAR. Barium and Mo concentrations, commonly used in oil operations, were up to 1000-fold higher than values recorded in other regions of Ecuador. OC/EC ratios and polyols concentrations were higher in NAR than in NPC, indicating a larger biogenic contribution to the PM mass in this region. In NAR, the main sources associated with ROS burden were biogenic emissions and oil production, as indicated by positive correlations between OP, sugars, Ba, some PAHs and oxy-PAHs. On the other hand, in NPC, associations between NH4+, Ba, As and Ni imply that oil refining and industrial activities are the main contributors to the OP of PM10.

Analysis of model PM2.5-induced inflammation and cytotoxicity by the combination of a virtual carbon nanoparticle library and computational modeling.

Health risks induced by PM2.5 have become one of the major concerns among living populations, especially in regions facing serious pollution such as China and India. Furthermore, the composition of PM2.5 is complex and it also varies with time and locations. To facilitate our understanding of PM2.5-induced toxicity, a predictive modeling framework was developed in the present study. The core of this study was 1) to construct a virtual carbon nanoparticle library based on the experimental data to simulate the PM2.5 structures; 2) to quantify the nanoparticle structures by novel nanodescriptors; and 3) to perform computational modeling for critical toxicity endpoints. The virtual carbon nanoparticle library was developed to represent the nanostructures of 20 carbon nanoparticles, which were synthesized to simulate PM2.5 structures and tested for potential health risks. Based on the calculated nanodescriptors from virtual carbon nanoparticles, quantitative nanostructure-activity relationship (QNAR) models were developed to predict cytotoxicity and four different inflammatory responses induced by model PM2.5. The high predictability (R2>0.65 for leave-one-out validations) of the resulted consensus models indicated that this approach could be a universal tool to predict and analyze the potential toxicity of model PM2.5, ultimately understanding and evaluating the ambient PM2.5-induced toxicity.

Impacts of stove/fuel use and outdoor air pollution on chemical composition of household particulate matter.

Biomass combustion for cooking and heating releases particulate matter (PM2.5 ) that contributes to household air pollution. Fuel and stove types affect the chemical composition of household PM, as does infiltration of outdoor PM. Characterization of these impacts can inform future exposure assessments and epidemiologic studies, but is currently limited. In this study, we measured chemical components of PM2.5 (water-soluble organic matter [WSOM], ions, black carbon, elements, organic tracers) in rural Chinese households using traditional biomass stoves, semi-gasifier stoves with pelletized biomass, and/or non-biomass stoves. We distinguished households using one stove type (traditional, semi-gasifier, or LPG/electric) from those using multiple stoves/fuels. WSOM concentrations were higher in households using only semi-gasifier or traditional stoves (31%-33%) than in those with exclusive LPG/electric stove (13%) or mixed stove use (12%-22%). Inorganic ions comprised 14% of PM in exclusive LPG/electric households, compared to 1%-5% of PM in households using biomass. Total PAH content was much higher in households that used traditional stoves (0.8-2.8mg/g PM) compared to those that did not (0.1-0.3mg/g PM). Source apportionment revealed that biomass burning comprised 27%-84% of PM2.5 in households using biomass. In all samples, identified outdoor sources (vehicles, dust, coal combustion, secondary aerosol) contributed 10%-20% of household PM2.5 .

Seasonal variability of trace elements in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in a coastal city of northern Poland - profile analysis and source identification.

A large group of trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ti, V, and Zn) was measured for the first time in 226 air samples collected at a coastal monitoring station in Gdynia (northern Poland), in the period from January 12th to August 30th, 2019. The 24 h measurements included fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations, meteorological parameters and backward air mass trajectory analyses. The monthly mean PM2.5 mass concentration ranged from 17.3 μg m-3 to 55.0 μg m-3, and the peak value of 167 μg m-3 was found in February. Overall, considerable differences in the trace element concentrations were observed. However, their seasonal distributions were not similar. In particular, elements such as Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, V and Zn showed significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.05) in winter compared to spring or summer. The winter peak of trace element concentrations in PM2.5 indicated that local power plants and fossil fuel/coal combustion in the residential sector were the major anthropogenic sources of air pollutants. Based on multivariate analysis (PCA) of the standardized database (14 elements and PM2.5), a significant contribution of different sources and processes was identified, i.e. local traffic emission, local/regional coal/oil burning in power plants and domestic heating units, industrial activities, petrochemical industry and maritime transport. The Cu/Fe ratios revealed that both local traffic and brake-wear emission considerably influenced the chemical composition of PM2.5. In addition, the results of the V/Ni ratio suggested local mixed industrial sources (petrochemical refinery and industrial plants) with possible contributions from the port area and shipping activities to the total PM2.5 loadings. The local ship emission was more pronounced during the summer period.

Trace element compositions in PM2.5 after the action for comprehensive control of air pollution in Beijing

Trace element compositions in PM2.5 after the action for comprehensive control of air pollution in Beijing

PM events and changes in the chemical composition of urban aerosols: A case study in the western Mediterranean.

More than 400 PM1 and 400 PM10 daily samples were collected in the urban center of Elche (close to the Spanish Mediterranean coast) from February 2015 to February 2018. Samples were analyzed to determine the concentrations of major and trace components with the aim of evaluating the influence of specific pollution events on the chemical composition of both PM fractions. The concentrations of crustal elements in PM10 significantly increased during Saharan dust outbreaks, particularly titanium, which has been identified as a good tracer of these events in the study area. Sulfate and nitrate levels were also enhanced due to secondary aerosol formation on mineral dust particles. Local pollution episodes had a great impact on submicron nitrate, whose mean concentration was more than four times higher than on non-event days. The chemical mass closure method was used to reconstruct PM1 and PM10 concentrations. Reasonably good correlations between measured and reconstructed concentrations were obtained, except for PM10 samples collected during Saharan dust events. This was due to the underestimation of the dust contribution during these episodes. Moderate differences in the average chemical composition of PM10 were observed between event and non-event days. Regarding PM1, only local pollution episodes had a certain impact on its chemical composition.

Impact of urban street canyon architecture on local atmospheric pollutant levels and magneto-chemical PM10 composition: An experimental study in Antwerp, Belgium

As real-life experimental data on natural ventilation of atmospheric pollution levels in urban street canyons is still scarce and has proven to be complex, this study, experimentally evaluated the impact of an urban street canyon opening on local atmospheric pollution levels, during a 2-week field campaign in a typical urban street canyon in Antwerp, Belgium. Besides following up on atmospheric particulate matter (PM), ultrafine particles (UFPs) and black carbon (BC) levels, the magneto-chemical PM10 composition was quantified to identify contributions of specific elements in enclosed versus open street canyon sections. Results indicated no higher overall PM, UFP and BC concentrations at the enclosed site compared to the open site, but significant day-to-day variability between both monitoring locations, depending on the experienced wind conditions. On days with oblique wind regimes (4 out of 14), natural ventilation was observed at the open location while higher element contributions of Ca, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Sr were exhibited at the enclosed location. Magnetic properties correlated with the PM10 filter loading, and elemental content of Fe, Cr, Mn and Ti. Magnetic bivariate ratios identified finel-grained magnetite carriers with grain sizes below 0.1 μm, indicating similar magnetic source contributions at both monitoring locations. Our holistic approach, combining atmospheric monitoring with magneto-chemical PM characterization has shown the complex impact of real-life wind flow regimes, different source contributions and local traffic dynamics on the resulting pollutant concentrations and contribute to a better understanding on the urban ventilation processes of atmospheric pollution.

Temporal-spatial variations of fungal composition in PM2.5 and source tracking of airborne fungi in mountainous and urban regions

Fungi are ubiquitous in air and their composition is potentially important for human health. Exposure to fungal allergens has been considered as a significant risk factor due to the prevalence and severity of asthma in humans. However, temporal-spatial variations and potential sources of airborne fungi aerosol have been poorly understood. In this study, 48 PM2.5 samples were collected at two sampling sites in Xi’an from April 2018 to January 2019. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to determine the diversity and abundance of fungal composition in all samples. Microbial samples were also collected from leaf-surface and soil to identify the potential sources of fungal aerosols. Results showed that the species richness of fungi in summer and autumn inclined to be higher than that in spring and winter in mountainous and urban regions. Airborne fungal species richness and diversity at Mt. Qinling sampling site were significantly higher compared to Yanta urban sampling site, except in winter. These variations in fungal composition were significantly related to season and location. The influence of atmospheric pollutants (PM2.5, ozone, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide) on the richness and diversity of airborne fungal composition was higher than meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity and wind speed). Moreover, it was observed that the leaf-surface was the primary local source of airborne fungi during all seasons at both sampling sites. Back trajectories arriving at both sampling sites showed that a considerable part of airborne fungi might have come from other regions by medium or long-range airflow. This study will provide an important reference for studying the source and temporal-spatial variations of fungal aerosols and further provide basic background data for human health exposure assessment.

The composition of microbial aerosols, PM2.5, and PM10 in a duck house in Shandong province, China

Poultry-emitted air pollutants, including microbial aerosols and particulate matter, have raised concerns due to their potential negative effects on human health and the environment. High concentrations of microbial aerosols can also significantly affect duck production performance, leading to immunosuppression and increased disease susceptibility. We determined the concentrations, distributions, and biological components of the microbial aerosols and particulate matter in a duck house environment. The concentration ranges of the bacteria, fungi, Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, and endotoxin in the duck houses were 3.3 to 5.2 × 104 CFU/m3, 3.8 to 11.9 × 103 CFU/m3, 2.1 to 3.6 × 103 CFU/m3, 1.3 to 2.7 × 102 CFU/m3, and 0.65 to 2.2 × 103 EU/m3, respectively. We also found the endotoxin levels were higher than the standard that can cause pneumonia (2,000 EU/m3). The concentration ranges of the PM2.5 and PM10 samples were 1.1 to 1.6 × 102μg/m3 and 1.2 to 1.9 × 102μg/m3, respectively. At the phylum level, the top 5 bacteria identified in the PM2.5 fraction were Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Fusobacteria, with Actinobacteria (50.55%) as the most abundant. At the genus level, 293 bacterial groups were identified. Actinobacteria (39.01%) was the most abundant phylum, followed by Firmicutes (5.44%) and Proteobacteria (4.56%). The bacterial distributions that differed between the PM2.5 and PM10 samples were Lactobacillales, Bacilli, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes; the fungi that differed were Microbotryomycetes, Sporidiobolales, Agaricomycetes, and Polyporates. Microbial allergens and pathogens were also identified. Corynebacterium had a relative abundance of more than 30% in the PM2.5 and PM10 distributions. Aspergillus was the main fungal allergen and opportunistic pathogen, with a relative abundance of 10%. In conclusion, our research supports that the microbial composition in the duck house environment poses a potential threat to the health of both the ducks and the duck house workers.

In-air micro-particle-induced X-ray emission imaging and spectroscopy of air-borne particles collected hourly from an automated sampling unit of the atmospheric environmental regional observation system

Particulate matter (PM) collected hourly by an automated sampling unit of the Atmospheric Environmental Regional Observation System (AEROS) was characterized by external micro-particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis and imaging. Micro-PIXE analysis revealed the overall elemental composition and differences in the elemental composition ratios of PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 collected as individual spots on Teflon tape filters from the unit, and the blank Teflon tape showed a clean background. Moreover, micro-PIXE imaging visualized regions with different elemental compositions in PM2.5 and PM2.5-10. Accumulation of PM2.5 particles was found frequently on tape filters which accounted approximately for 70% of particular elemental composition including heavy metals like iron, compared to that from whole area. The results suggest that PIXE effectively reveals elemental composition of hourly-collected PM by AEROS system for futuristic application for source apportionment of those over Japan.

Cardiovascular effects of airborne particulate matter: A review of rodent model studies.

In recent year, animal models have been growingly used to increase our knowledge about the toxicity of PM and underlying mechanisms leading to cardiovascular diseases. In this article, we review the current state of knowledge and findings of studies investigating the cardiovascular effects of PM in rats and mice. The six main areas covered in this review include: I) nature of particulate matter and toxicity mechanisms, II) systemic inflammation, III) heart rate and heart rate variability, IV) histopathological effects, V) atherosclerosis, VI) thrombosis, and VI) myocardial infarction. This review showed that animal model studies have been successful to bring new insights into the mechanisms underlying PM-induced cardiovascular diseases. However, there are some areas that the exact mechanisms are still unclear. In conclusion, investigating the cardiovascular effects of PM invivo or interpreting the results should attempt to justify the role of different PM compositions, which may vastly affect the overall cytotoxicity of particles.

Temporal variation of suspended particles (TSP, PM10, and PM2.5) and chemical composition of PM10 in a site at the coast of the Gulf of Mexico

A study of temporal variations of particulate matter in different size fractions (TSP, PM10, PM2.5) was undertaken in the city of San Francisco de Campeche (SFC), in southeast Mexico, in the years 2014 and 2015 in order to assess the contribution of the chemical components. The samples were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and ion exchange chromatography (IC) for PM10. XRF identified the presence of Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn. The results of a cluster analysis (CA) indicates a strong correlation of S and P in the three fractions due to agricultural land use and this may be related to the burning of biomass during the dry season. Also the CA also suggests that the elements Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, and Fe can be associated with a geological origin. The results of the IC analysis show high levels of Na+, Cl−, and SO4−2 and the latter must be related to anthropogenic sources. The application of principal components analysis (PCA) suggests that Na+, Cl− and Mg+2 are associated with marine aerosols; NO3− and SO4−2 are from emissions related to fuel combustion due to increase in the number of motor vehicles in the city.

Pollution Characteristics of Ambient Fine Particulate Matters at Mt. Halla-1100 and Gosan Sites in Jeju Island

Ambient fine particulate matters of PM10 and PM2.5 were collected at the Mt. Halla-1100 site (a site at an altitude of 1100 meters on Mt. Halla) and the Gosan site, which comprise a typical mountainous site and coastal background site, respectively, on Jeju Island. The major water-soluble ionic species of these sites were analyzed. The average mass concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 at the Mt. Halla-1100 site were 0.59 times lower and 0.78 times lower, respectively, than those at the Gosan site. The composition ratios of the major secondary air pollutants (nss-SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+) of PM10 and PM2.5 were 86.2% and 93.2%, respectively, at the Mt. Halla-1100 site, while those at the Gosan site were 67.7% and 87.2%, respectively. These results show the comparatively larger contributions at the Mt. Halla-1100 site. The principal component analysis reveals that the main affecting factors for the ionic compositions of PM10 and PM2.5 particles at both sites are the anthropogenic emission sources, especially the comparative influence of organic acids at the Mt. Halla-1100 site, and the marine sources at the Gosan site. Based on the neutralization factors, the fine particulate matters were acidified mainly by sulfuric and nitric acids, and the neutralization was relatively caused by calcium carbonate in PM10 particles and ammonia in PM2.5 particles. The clustered back trajectory analyses indicated that the major ionic concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 comparatively increased when the airflow moved from continental China and the Korean Peninsula. The polluting influence from China was apparent in the upper planetary boundary layer (PBL) compared with that at ground level. Key Words: PM10, PM2.5, Mt. Halla-1100 site, Gosan site, Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL)

Differentiation of Particulate Matter Sources Based on the Chemical Composition of PM10 in Functional Urban Areas

Urban air quality is continuing to deteriorate. If we want to do something about this problem, we need to know the cause of the pollution. The big problem, not only in Europe, is the high concentrations of particulate matter (PM) in the urban environment. The origin of these particles can be different, including combustion, transport, industry, natural resources, etc. Particulate matter includes a large amount of the finest PM fractions, which can remain in the air for a long time, easily enter respiratory tracks, and damage human health. Particulate matter is also produced by the abrasion of different parts of roads and vehicle fleets and from resuspension road dust, which concerns matter with larger aerodynamic diameters. For this reason, we carried out a series of measurements at various measuring stations in Žilina, Slovakia, during different measuring seasons. The main objective was to find out the diversity of particulate matter sources in Žilina. The search for the particulate matter origin was carried out by particulate matter measurements, determination of the particulate matter fraction concentrations (PM10, PM2.5, and PM1), an investigation on the effect of secondary factors on the particulate matter concentrations, chemical analyses, and multivariate statistical analyses. Varied behavior of the particulate matter with respect to the measurement station and the measurement season was found. Differences in the concentrations of investigated chemical elements contained in the PM were found. Significant changes in the concentrations of particulate matter are caused not only by primary sources (e.g., road traffic in the city of Žilina), but mainly by the negative events (combination of air pollution sources and meteorological conditions). Maximum concentrations of particulate matter PM10 were measured during the winter season at the measuring station on Komenského Street: PM10 126.2 µg/m3, PM2.5 97.7 µg/m3, and PM1 90.4 µg/m3 were obtained using the gravimetric method. The coarse fraction PM2.5-10 was mainly represented by the chemical elements Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Cr, Fe, and Ba, and the fine fraction PM2.5 was represented by the chemical elements K, S, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Zn. Road transport as a dominant source of PM10 was identified from all measurements in the city of Žilina by using the multivariate statistical methods of principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis (FA).

Contribution of Minerals in Different Occurrence Forms to PM10 Emissions during the Combustion of Pulverized Zhundong Coal

The comprehensive and quantitative assessment of the contribution of minerals with different occurrence forms to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10) emitted from the combustion of Zhundong coal is of great significance for its clean utilization and for the development of particulate matter formation mechanisms. Samples with simplified occurrence forms of inorganic species were prepared by water-, salt-, and acid-washing of Zhundong coal. The samples were combusted in a drop-tube furnace under 20 vol % oxygen at 1250 °C, and the emitted PM10 was collected. The effects of the minerals in different forms on the PM10 emissions were analyzed by comparing the mass concentration distributions, yields, and elemental compositions of PM10. The results showed that water-soluble, ion-exchangeable, acid-soluble, and acid-insoluble minerals contributed 8.3%, 37.8%, 29.7%, and 24.2% of the PM10 emissions, respectively. The distributions of the Na, Mg, Ca, and Fe contents in PM10 were bimodal, as follows: 63.6% of Na and 54.5% of Fe were deported to the ultrafine mode PM, while 63.6% of Mg and 86.6% of Ca were deported to the coarse mode PM. The distributions of the Si and Al contents were unimodal, namely: 92.9% of Si and 90.5% of Al were deported to the coarse mode PM. Water-soluble Na; ion-exchanged Mg, Ca, and Fe; and acid-insoluble Si and Al played decisive roles in the distribution of minerals in PM10.

Changes in triggering of ST-elevation myocardial infarction by particulate air pollution in Monroe County, New York over time: a case-crossover study

BackgroundPrevious studies have reported that fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations triggered ST elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMI). In Rochester, NY, multiple air quality policies and economic changes/influences from 2008 to 2013 led to decreased concentrations of PM2.5 and its major constituents (SO42−, NO3−, elemental and primary organic carbon). This study examined whether the rate of STEMI associated with increased ambient gaseous and PM component concentrations was different AFTER these air quality policies and economic changes (2014–2016), compared to DURING (2008–2013) and BEFORE these polices and changes (2005–2007).MethodsUsing 921 STEMIs treated at the University of Rochester Medical Center (2005–2016) and a case-crossover design, we examined whether the rate of STEMI associated with increased PM2.5, ultrafine particles (UFP, < 100 nm), accumulation mode particles (AMP, 100-500 nm), black carbon, SO2, CO, and O3 concentrations in the previous 1–72 h was modified by the time period related to these pollutant source changes (BEFORE, DURING, AFTER).ResultsEach interquartile range (3702 particles/cm3) increase in UFP concentration in the previous 1 h was associated with a 12% (95% CI = 3%, 22%) increase in the rate of STEMI. The effect size was larger in the AFTER period (26%) than the DURING (5%) or BEFORE periods (9%). There were similar patterns for black carbon and SO2.ConclusionsAn increased rate of STEMI associated with UFP and other pollutant concentrations was higher in the AFTER period compared to the BEFORE and DURING periods. This may be due to changes in PM composition (e.g. higher secondary organic carbon and particle bound reactive oxygen species) following these air quality policies and economic changes.

Distinctions in source regions and formation mechanisms of secondary aerosol in Beijing from summer to winter

Abstract. To investigate the sources and evolution of haze pollution in different seasons, long-term (from 15 August to 4 December 2015) variations in chemical composition of PM1 were characterized in Beijing, China. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis with a multi-linear engine (ME-2) resolved three primary and two secondary organic aerosol (OA) sources, including hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA), cooking OA (COA), coal combustion OA (CCOA), local secondary OA (LSOA) and regional SOA (RSOA). The sulfate source region analysis implies that sulfate was mainly transported at a large regional scale in late summer, while local and/or nearby sulfate formation may be more important in winter. Meanwhile, distinctly different correlations between sulfate and RSOA or LSOA (i.e., better correlation with RSOA in late summer, similar correlations with RSOA and LSOA in autumn, and close correlation with LSOA in early winter) confirmed the regional characteristic of RSOA and local property of LSOA. Secondary aerosol species including secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA – sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium) and SOA (LSOA and RSOA) dominated PM1 during all three seasons. In particular, SOA contributed 46 % to total PM1 (with 31 % as RSOA) in late summer, whereas SIA contributed 41 % and 45 % to total PM1 in autumn and early winter, respectively. Enhanced contributions of secondary species (66 %–76 % of PM1) were also observed in pollution episodes during all three seasons, further emphasizing the importance of secondary formation processes in haze pollution in Beijing. Combining chemical composition and meteorological data, our analyses suggest that both photochemical oxidation and aqueous-phase processing played important roles in SOA formation during all three seasons, while for sulfate formation, gas-phase photochemical oxidation was the major pathway in late summer, aqueous-phase reactions were more responsible during early winter and both processes had contributions during autumn.

Prediction of 24-hour milk yield and composition in dairy cows from a single part-day yield and sample

Abstract The objective was to evaluate the accuracy of predicting 24-hour milk yield and composition from a single morning (AM) or evening (PM) milk weight and composition. A calibration dataset of 37,481 test-day records with both AM and PM yields and composition was used to generate the prediction equations; equations were validated using 4,644 test-day records. Prediction models were developed within stage of lactation and parity while accounting for the inter-milking time interval. The mean correlation between the predicted 24-hour yields and composition of milk, fat and protein and the respective actual values was 0.97 when based on just an AM milk yield and composition with a mean correlation of 0.95 when based on just a PM milk yield and composition. The regression of predicted 24-hour yield and composition on the respective actual values varied from 0.97 to 1.01 with the exception of 24-hour fat percentage predicted from a PM sample (1.06). A single AM sample is useful to predict 24-hour milk yield and composition when the milking interval is known.

Morphological characterization and chemical composition of PM2.5 and PM10 collected from four typical Chinese restaurants

AbstractIt is widely known that cooking contributes particulate matter (PM) to outdoor and indoor air. To research the morphology and chemical composition of PM10 and PM2.5 in cooking fumes, four C...

Nitrogen isotope composition of ammonium in PM2.5 in the Xiamen, China: impact of non-agricultural ammonia.

Since NH3 is a significant precursor to ammonium in PM2.5 and contributes significantly to atmospheric nitrogen deposition but largely remains unregulated in China, the insight into the source of NH3 emissions by the isotopic investigation is important in controlling NH3 emissions. In this study, atmospheric concentrations of NH3 and water-soluble ion composition in PM2.5 as well as nitrogen isotope ratios in NH4+ (δ15N-NH4+) in Xiamen, China, were measured. Results showed that average NH3 concentration for the five sites in Xiamen was 7.9μgm-3 with distinct higher values in the warm season and lower values in the cold season, and PM2.5 concentration for the two sites (urban and suburban) was 59.2μgm-3 with lowest values in summer. In the PM2.5, NH4+ concentrations were much lower than NH3 and showed a stronger positive correlation with NO3- than that with SO42- suggesting the formation of NH4NO3 and equilibrium between NH3 and NH4+. Although the concentrations of NH3 at the urban site were significantly higher than those at the suburban site, no significant spatial difference in NH4+ and δ15N-NH4+ was obtained. The distinct heavier δ15N-NH4+ values in summer than in other seasons correlated well with the equilibrium isotopic effects between NH3 and NH4+ which depend on temperature. The initial δ15N-NH3 values were in the range of waste treatment (- 25.42‰) and fossil fuel combustion (- 2.5‰) after accounting for the isotope fractionation. The stable isotope mixing model showed that fossil fuel-related NH3 emissions (fossil fuel combustion and NH3 slip) contributed more than 70% to aerosol NH4+. This finding suggested that the reduction of NH3 emissions from urban transportation and coal combustion should be a priority in the abatement of PM2.5 pollution in Xiamen.