Oxidative Potential Of PM2 Research Articles

Assessing the oxidative potential of isoprene-derived epoxides and secondary organic aerosol

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is known to contribute to adverse health effects, such as asthma, cardiopulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is a major component of PM2.5 and can be enhanced by atmospheric oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds in the presence of anthropogenic pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide. However, whether biogenic SOA contributes to adverse health effects remains unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of isoprene-derived epoxides and SOA for generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) in light of the recent recognition that atmospheric oxidation of isoprene in the presence of acidic sulfate aerosol is a major contributor to the global SOA burden. The dithiothreitol (DTT) assay was used to characterize the ROS generation by the isoprene-derived epoxides, trans-β-isoprene epoxydiol (trans-β-IEPOX) and methacrylic acid epoxide (MAE), and their hydrolysis products, the 2-methyltetrol diastereomers (2-MT), 2-methylglyceric acid (2-MG), their organosulfate derivatives, as well as an isoprene-derived hydroxyhydroperoxide (ISOPOOH). In addition, ROS generation potential was evaluated for total SOA produced from photooxidation of isoprene and methacrolein (MACR) as well as from the reactive uptake of trans-β-IEPOX and MAE onto acidified sulfate aerosol. The high-NOx regime, which yields 2-MG-, MAE- and MACR-derived SOA has a higher ROS generation potential than the low-NOx regime, which yields 2-MT, IEPOX- and isoprene-derived SOA. ISOPOOH has an ROS generation potential similar to 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NQ), suggesting a significant contribution of aerosol-phase organic peroxides to PM oxidative potential. MAE- and MACR-derived SOA show equal or greater ROS generation potential than reported in studies on diesel exhaust PM, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive investigation of the toxicity of isoprene-derived SOA.

Changes in chemical composition and oxidative potential of urban PM2.5 between 2010 and 2013 in Hungary

A comprehensive chemical characterization and oxidative potential (OP) assessment of PM2.5 was carried out at an urban site of Budapest between June 2010 and May 2013 to investigate the seasonal variability of particulate phase air pollutants and their oxidative activity. Chemical analyses included the determination of the concentration of trace elements, major water-soluble inorganic ions and carbonaceous fractions (total carbon, water-soluble organic carbon, organic carbon, elemental carbon). The OP of PM2.5 was assessed by antioxidant depletion using a synthetic respiratory tract lining fluid containing ascorbate, reduced glutathione and urate.The mean PM2.5 mass concentration (21.0μgm−3) was just below the 25μgm−3 annual mean PM2.5 limit value set by the European Commission and showed a seasonal pattern with higher levels during winter. On average, 84% of the gravimetric mass could be reconstructed by the chemical measurements. Organic matter and secondary inorganic ions were the most dominant PM2.5 constituents contributing 40 and 29% of its mass, respectively. Changes in the yearly concentrations were not identified for the investigated compounds between 2010 and 2013. Temporal differences in both ascorbate and glutathione oxidation could be observed during the 3-year long sampling period; however, no clear seasonal trend was apparent. OP metrics were associated mainly with traffic-related trace elements; however, other PM sources (i.e., long-range transport, secondary aerosol formation) could also contribute to particulate OP in Budapest. The weak correlation between OP metrics and PM2.5 mass concentration suggests the possibility of using OP as an additional metric in epidemiology.

Associations between Three Specific A-Cellular Measures of the Oxidative Potential of Particulate Matter and Markers of Acute Airway and Nasal Inflammation

Background: The oxidative potential (OP) of particulate matter (PM) has been proposed as a more health relevant metric than PM mass. However, there is little evidence in epidemiological studies that OP is more closely associated with health effects than PM mass or other PM characteristics. Aim: To evaluate the associations between 3 specific a-cellular metrics of OP of PM and acute health effects. Methods: We exposed 31 volunteers to ambient air pollution at five different locations in the Netherlands: an underground train station, 2 traffic sites, a farm and an urban background site. Each volunteer visited at least 3 different sites, and was exposed for 5 h including intermittent exercise. Health measurements were conducted before exposure, 2 h after exposure and the next morning. Air pollution was measured on site, including PM mass and number concentrations, PM composition (e.g. EC/OC, metals, PAHs). The OP of PM2.5 and PM10 was measured using 3 a-cellular assays; dithiotreitol (OPDTT), electron spin resonance (OPESR) and ascorbate depletion (OPAA). One and two pollutant mixed models were used to analyse associations between exposure and health outcomes. Results: In single-pollutant models, all measures of OP were significantly associated with increases in FENO and increases in IL-6 in nasal lavage (NAL) 2 hours after exposure. Effect estimates increased considerably after excluding or adjusting for the underground; the site with by far the highest levels of OP. Results from two-pollutant models also differed depending on how the underground was considered: For all sites PNC and NO2 were consistently associated with FENO and NAL IL-6, respectively, whereas after excluding the underground we found consistent associations with OP. Conclusion: We found significant associations between the OP of PM and markers of airway and nasal inflammation. However, consistency of effects in two pollutant models depended on how measurements at the underground site were considered.

Contrasts in Oxidative Potential and Other Particulate Matter Characteristics Collected Near Major Streets and Background Locations

Background: Measuring the oxidative potential of airborne particulate matter (PM) may provide a more health-based exposure measure by integrating various biologically relevant properties of PM into a single predictor of biological activity.Objectives: We aimed to assess the contrast in oxidative potential of PM collected at major urban streets and background locations, the associaton of oxidative potential with other PM characteristics, and the oxidative potential in different PM size fractions.Methods: Measurements of PM with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10), PM with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5), soot, elemental composition, and oxidative potential of PM were conducted simultaneously in samples from 8 major streets and 10 urban and suburban background locations in the Netherlands. Six 1-week measurements were performed at each location over a 6-month period in 2008. Oxidative potential was measured as the ability to generate hydroxyl radicals in the presence of hydrogen peroxide in all PM10 samples and a subset of PM2.5 samples.Results: The PM10 oxidative potential of samples from major streets was 3.6 times higher than at urban background locations, exceeding the contrast for PM mass, soot, and all measured chemical PM characteristics. The contrast between major streets and suburban background locations was even higher (factor of 6.5). Oxidative potential was highly correlated with soot, barium, chromium, copper, iron, and manganese. Oxidative potential of PM10 was 4.6 times higher than the oxidative potential of PM2.5 when expressed per volume unit and 3.1 times higher when expressed per mass unit.Conclusions: The oxidative potential of PM near major urban roads was highly elevated compared with urban and suburban background locations, and the contrast was greater than that for any other measured PM characteristic.

Associations of Primary and Secondary Organic Aerosols With Airway and Systemic Inflammation in an Elderly Panel Cohort

Exposure-response information about particulate air-pollution constituents is needed to protect sensitive populations. Particulate matter <2.5 mm (PM2.5) components may induce oxidative stress through reactive-oxygen-species generation, including primary organics from combustion sources and secondary organics from photochemically oxidized volatile organic compounds. We evaluated differences in airway versus systemic inflammatory responses to primary versus secondary organic particle components, particle size fractions, and the potential of particles to induce cellular production of reactive oxygen species. A total of 60 elderly subjects contributed up to 12 weekly measurements of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (NO; airway inflammation biomarker), and plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6; systemic inflammation biomarker). PM2.5 mass fractions were PM0.25 (<0.25 μm) and PM0.25-2.5 (0.25-2.5 μm). Primary organic markers included PM2.5 primary organic carbon, and PM0.25 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and hopanes. Secondary organic markers included PM2.5 secondary organic carbon, and PM0.25 water soluble organic carbon and n-alkanoic acids. Gaseous pollutants included carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx; combustion emissions markers), and ozone (O3; photochemistry marker). To assess PM oxidative potential, we exposed rat alveolar macrophages in vitro to aqueous extracts of PM0.25 filters and measured reactive-oxygen-species production. Biomarker associations with exposures were evaluated with mixed-effects models. Secondary organic markers, PM0.25-2.5, and O3 were positively associated with exhaled NO. Primary organic markers, PM0.25, CO, and NOx were positively associated with IL-6. Reactive oxygen species were associated with both outcomes. Particle effects on airway versus systemic inflammation differ by composition, but overall particle potential to induce generation of cellular reactive oxygen species is related to both outcomes.

Gasoline: A complex chemical mixture, or a dangerous vehicle for benzene exposure?

The goal of this study was to characterize changes in components and toxicological properties of PM2.5 during the nationwide 2019-Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions in Milan, Italy. Time-integrated PM2.5 filters were collected at a residential site in Milan metropolitan area from April 11th to June 3rd at 2020, encompassing full-lockdown (FL), the followed partial-lockdown (PL2), and full-relaxation (FR) periods of COVID-19 restrictions. The collected filters were analyzed for elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), individual organic species (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and levoglucosan), and metals. According to online data, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and benzene (C6H6) levels significantly decreased during the entire COVID-19 period compared to the same time span in 2019, mainly due to the government-backed shutdowns and curtailed road traffic. Similarly, with a few exceptions, surrogates of tailpipe emissions (e.g., traffic-associated PAHs) as well as re-suspended road dust (e.g., Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, and Ti) were relatively lower during FL and PL2 periods in comparison with year 2019, whereas an increasing trend in mass concentration of mentioned species was observed from FL to PL2 and FR phases due to the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions. In contrast, comparable concentrations of ambient PM2.5 and black carbon (BC) between lockdown period and the same time span in 2019 were attributed to the interplay between decreased road traffic and elevated domestic biomass burning as a result of adopted stay-home strategies. Finally, the curtailed road traffic during FL and PL2 periods led to ~25% drop in the PM2.5 oxidative potential (measured via 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH) and dithiothreitol (DTT) assays) with respect to the FR period as well as the same time span in 2019. The results of this study provide insights into the changes in components and oxidative potential of PM2.5 in the absence of road traffic during COVID-19 restrictions.

PM composition and source reconciliation in Mexico City

PM 2.5 and PM 10 were collected during 24-h sampling intervals from March 1st to 31st, 2006 during the MILAGRO campaign carried out in Mexico City's northern region, in order to determine their chemical composition, oxidative activity and the estimation of the source contributions during the sampling period by means of the chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model. PM 2.5 concentrations ranged from 32 to 70 μg m −3 while that of PM10 did so from 51 to 132 μg m −3. The most abundant chemical species for both PM fractions were: OC, EC, SO 4 2−, NO 3 −, NH 4 +, Si, Fe and Ca. The majority of the PM mass was comprised of carbon, up to about 52% and 30% of the PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. PM2.5 constituted more than 50% of PM10. The redox activity, assessed by the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay, was greater for PM 2.5 than for PM 10, and did not display significant differences during the sampling period. The PM 2.5 source reconciliation showed that in average, vehicle exhaust emissions were its most important source in an urban site with a 42% contribution, followed by re-suspended dust with 26%, secondary inorganic aerosols with 11%, and industrial emissions and food cooking with 10% each. These results had a good agreement with the Emission Inventory. In average, the greater mass concentration occurred during O 3S that corresponds to a wind shift initially with transport to the South but moving back to the North. Taken together these results show that PM chemical composition, oxidative potential, and source contribution is influenced by the meteorological conditions.

Breath—A database on occupational exposure limits and local irritation

The goal of this study was to characterize changes in components and toxicological properties of PM2.5 during the nationwide 2019-Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions in Milan, Italy. Time-integrated PM2.5 filters were collected at a residential site in Milan metropolitan area from April 11th to June 3rd at 2020, encompassing full-lockdown (FL), the followed partial-lockdown (PL2), and full-relaxation (FR) periods of COVID-19 restrictions. The collected filters were analyzed for elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), individual organic species (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and levoglucosan), and metals. According to online data, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and benzene (C6H6) levels significantly decreased during the entire COVID-19 period compared to the same time span in 2019, mainly due to the government-backed shutdowns and curtailed road traffic. Similarly, with a few exceptions, surrogates of tailpipe emissions (e.g., traffic-associated PAHs) as well as re-suspended road dust (e.g., Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, and Ti) were relatively lower during FL and PL2 periods in comparison with year 2019, whereas an increasing trend in mass concentration of mentioned species was observed from FL to PL2 and FR phases due to the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions. In contrast, comparable concentrations of ambient PM2.5 and black carbon (BC) between lockdown period and the same time span in 2019 were attributed to the interplay between decreased road traffic and elevated domestic biomass burning as a result of adopted stay-home strategies. Finally, the curtailed road traffic during FL and PL2 periods led to ~25% drop in the PM2.5 oxidative potential (measured via 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH) and dithiothreitol (DTT) assays) with respect to the FR period as well as the same time span in 2019. The results of this study provide insights into the changes in components and oxidative potential of PM2.5 in the absence of road traffic during COVID-19 restrictions.