Total Suspended Particles Research Articles

Evaluation of Health Risk and Heavy Metal Pollution Caused by Dust Storms in Zabol City.

This study investigated the concentrations and compositions of specific elements in total suspended particulate (TSP) samples and the associated ecological, carcinogenic, and non-carcinogenic risks related to the inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption of heavy metals. The study focused on adult and pediatric populations in the highly dust-polluted city of Zabol, Iran, during 2022-2023. The samples were analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The concentration of metals in milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) was as follows: Al (75053) > Ca (8206) > Fe (5439) > Mg (5323) > Zn (15.27) > Pb (3.66) > Cr (3.38) > Cd (0.011); according to the results, the highest amount of metals related to aluminum and calcium in dust particles. The calculated individual indices, including the ecological risk index (ERI), pollution factor (Cfi), and geographic accumulation index (Igeo), indicated that calcium exhibited minimal pollution, while the metal samples (Al, Mg, Fe, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn) were categorized as uncontaminated. The results revealed that the ecological risk factor (Er) is below 40, indicating a low level of contamination. Additionally, the pollution level determined by the ecological risk potential (RI) was less than 150, suggesting a low probability of contamination. Ingestion posed the highest average hazard quotient (HQ) values for both children and adults in terms of non-carcinogenic risk assessment, while cutaneous and inhalation exposures showed lower values. Furthermore, the hazard index (HI) for heavy metals remained below the safe threshold of 1. The risk index (RI) values for lead, cadmium, and chromium were all below 1 × 10-6 in both adult and pediatric populations. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidelines suggest an acceptable level of carcinogenicity for all heavy metals, indicating a potential risk of cancer associated with the presence of these metals in suspended particles in Zabol.

Displacement Factors for Aerosol Emissions From Alternative Forest Biomass Use

ABSTRACTSubstituting alternative materials and energy sources with forest biomass can cause significant environmental consequences, such as alteration in the released emissions which can be described by displacement factors (DFs). Until now, DFs of wood‐based materials have included greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and have been associated with lower fossil and process‐based emissions than non‐wood counterparts. In addition to GHGs, aerosols released in combustion processes, for example, alter radiative forcing in the atmosphere and consequently have an influence on climate. In this study, the objective was to quantify the changes in the most important aerosol emission components for cases when wood‐based materials and energy were used to replace the production of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, common fossil‐based construction materials (concrete, steel and brick), non‐wood textile materials and energy produced by fossil fuels and peat. For this reason, we expanded the DF calculations to include aerosol emissions of total suspended particles (TSP), respirable particulate matter (PM10), fine particles (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and non‐methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) based on the embodied energies of materials and energy sources. The DFs for cardboard implied a decrease in BC, SO2 and NMVOC emissions but an increase in the other emission components. DFs for sawn wood mainly indicated higher emissions of both particles and gaseous emissions compared to non‐wood counterparts. DFs for wood‐based textiles demonstrated increased particle emissions and reduced gaseous emissions. DFs for energy biomass mainly implied an increase in emissions, especially if biomass was combusted in small‐scale appliances. Our main conclusion highlights the critical need to thoroughly assess how using forest biomass affects aerosol emissions. This improved understanding of the aerosol emissions of the forestry sector is crucial for a comprehensive evaluation of the climate and health implications associated with forest biomass use.

Tourism activities significantly contributed toatmospheric pollutants in a remote town of Tianshan revealed by the continuous observation of two years

The large reduction in tourism activities in 2020 provided a unique opportunity to investigate their contribution on atmospheric pollutants in Bayanbulak, a remote town in Tianshan, China. In this scenic and sensitive region, we measured total suspended particulates (TSP) along with concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIIs) during the lockdown in 2020 and compared these to levels in the pre-pandemic period of 2019. The study revealed significant reductions in PAHs, OC, EC, and some WSIIs concentrations during the tourist season (May–October) of 2020 compared with 2019, whereas variations between non-tourist seasons were less pronounced. Furthermore, by comparing pollutant characteristics in tourist seasons of these two years, we found that 5- and 6-ring groups were main PAH constituents in 2019, while 5- and 3-ring groups contributed more to total PAHs in 2020. OC/EC ratio increased from 2019 to 2020, indicating an increase of biomass burning contribution after the lockdown. Using positive matrix factorization, we determined that emissions from tourism-related transportation and combustion of natural gas and coal (mainly for cooking) contributed 21.9% and 46.6%, respectively, to certain atmospheric pollutants in 2019, whereas they decreased significantly to 3% and 19.4% in 2020 with dust and biomass contributions increased substantially. The levels of PAHs, OC, and EC from tourism-related sources were as high as 9.31 ng m−3, 1.28 μg m−3 and 0.11 μg m−3 and decreased by 54.37%, 25.16%, and 9.54%, respectively, compared to 2019. Hence, the impact of tourism must be considered during the assessment of local air pollutant emissions, particularly in remote areas.

Neuron-Specific Enolase as a Biological Marker for Welders' Pneumoconiosis.

The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and welders' pneumoconiosis, through chest x-ray and serum NSE. The exposed group included 37 welders. The nonexposed group included 38 administrative workers. Both groups underwent history taking, clinical examination, chest x-ray, serum chromium, and serum neuron-specific enolase. Air sampling was done for total suspended particles, respirable particles, and welding fumes. All the air samples were within the national threshold limit values. Chest x-ray abnormalities were found in eight welders (21.6%), and included reticular opacities, scattered nodules or ground-glass opacities. Serum chromium and NSE were significantly higher among welders. Serum NSE correlated positively with the duration of exposure and serum chromium level among welders. Serum NSE can be used as a biomarker for early detection of welders' pneumoconiosis.

Quantifying particulate matter emission rates from naturally ventilated dairy buildings by considering roof opening contributions

Roof openings are typically fitted to naturally ventilated dairy building (NVDB) for better ventilation but their impact on air pollutant emission calculations has not been fully considered. Particulate matter (PM) emission rate (ER) for NVDB rely on the total ventilation rate (VR), outdoor PM concentration and average indoor PM concentration sampled either under the roof (Roof Sampling) or in the cubicle area (Cubicle Sampling), which may show large deviations due to its spatiotemporal variation of PM concentrations and complex airflow patterns. This study utilised a novel ER calculation method (Joint Sampling) that computes the respective emission from the roof and sidewall openings by matching each outlet's VR and PM concentration. By year-round field measurements of PM2.5 and the total suspended particulates (TSP), results showed that annual average ERs of PM2.5 and TSP were 10.8 mg h−1 cow−1 and 45.7 mg h−1 cow−1 for Roof Sampling, 12.7 mg h−1 cow−1 and 40.7 mg h−1 cow−1 for Cubicle Sampling, and 11.7 mg h−1 cow−1 and 45.9 mg h−1 cow−1 for Joint Sampling. Considering the Joint Sampling results were relatively true, Roof Sampling exhibited a maximum underestimate of PM2.5 emissions of 20.8% when sidewall curtains were fully opened, whilst Cubicle Sampling demonstrated a maximum overestimate of TSP of 10.2% when the aperture was closed. Using Joint Sampling, the roof opening contributed 39.3% and 24.4% of the annual PM2.5 and TSP emissions. When sidewall openings are partially or fully closed, the Joint Sampling calculation is preferable to estimate the ER of PM.

Exploring the relationship between personal exposure to multiple water-soluble components and ROS in size-resolved PMs in solid fuel combustion households

Water-soluble species are the main components of particulate matters (PMs), which have important impacts on visibility, climate change and human health. Here, personal exposure (PE) to size-resolved PMs from housewives using different solid fuels (biomass and coal) was collected during winter in rural Yuncheng city, Fenwei Plain, China. The concentrations of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were higher in the biomass group than coal group, whereas the concentrations of water-soluble inorganic ions and water-soluble nitrogen were higher in the coal group than biomass group. Almost all measured water-soluble components in both groups showed a pattern of increasing concentration with decreasing particle size, with more than 50% of WSOC and water-soluble total nitrogen (WSTN) enriched in PM0.25. The Pearson correlation result was in general agreement with the relationship between water-soluble components and ROS found by random forest model. There was a strong positive correlation between ROS and WSOC in PMs in the coal group, especially in PMs <0.25 μm, which may be due to the emission of a large number of transition metals chelated with WSOC from coal combustion. The contribution of Cl− and F− to ROS was greater in the biomass group. NO2− in both coal and biomass groups had a decent positive effect on ROS generation. The strongest positive linear correlation (R = 0.95) between ROS and K+ in total suspended particulates in the biomass group, whereas there was almost no contribution of K+ to ROS when particle size was distinguished or in random forest model, which reflects the specificity of K+ in inducing ROS. The present study provides new insights for a deeper exploration of the relationship between water-soluble components and oxidative potential in PE PMs from domestic combustion sources.

Atmospheric evolution of environmentally persistent free radicals in the rural North China Plain: effects on water solubility and PM2.5 oxidative potential

Abstract. Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) represent a novel class of hazardous substances, posing risks to human health and the environment. In this study, we investigated the EPFRs in ambient fine, coarse, and total suspended particles (PM2.5, PM10, and TSPs) in the rural North China Plain, where local primary emissions of EPFRs were limited. We observed that the majority of EPFRs occurred in PM2.5. Moreover, distinct seasonal patterns and higher g factors of EPFRs were found compared to those in urban environments, suggesting unique characteristics of EPFRs in rural areas. The source apportionment analyses revealed atmospheric oxidation as the largest contributor (33.6 %) to EPFRs. A large water-soluble fraction (35.2 %) of EPFRs was determined, potentially resulting from the formation of more oxidized EPFRs through atmospheric oxidation processes during long-range or regional transport. Additionally, significant positive correlations were observed between EPFRs and the oxidative potential of water-soluble PM2.5 measured by dithiothreitol-depletion and hydroxyl-generation assays, likely attributable to the water-soluble fractions of EPFRs. Overall, our findings reveal the prevalence of water-soluble EPFRs in rural areas and underscore the fact that atmospheric oxidation processes can modify their properties, such as increasing their water solubility. This evolution may alter their roles in contributing to the oxidative potential of PM2.5 and potentially also influence their impact on climate-related cloud chemistry.

Using synchrotron based ATR-FTIR, EXAFS, and XRF to characterize the chemical compositions of TSP in industrial estate area

In Thailand, the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate (MTPIE), a prominent industrial hub, has substantial environmental and health issues caused by industrial pollution. This study uses advanced synchrotron-based techniques, such as Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR), Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS), and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), to fully examine the chemical make-up of total suspended particulate (TSP) in the given area. Notable findings include the detection of remarkably high enrichment factors for magnesium and sulfur, indicating the presence of industrial operations. Additionally, we found that magnetite, which accounts for an average of 40 % of the total iron oxides in the samples, is the main iron oxide. The study also highlights about how calcium carbonate and different organic functional groups are found in large amounts, which shows that industrial emissions and natural sources are connected in a complex way. The findings underscore the susceptibility of children to TSP exposure, revealing increased rates of inhalation and significant health hazards. In order to safeguard public health in industrial areas such as MTPIE, it is imperative to implement more sophisticated pollution control techniques and maintain ongoing environmental monitoring.

Temporal and spatial distribution of novel brominated flame retardants in atmosphere of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China

The occurrence and spatio-temporal distribution of atmospheric novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) were studied across five sampling sites in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region over a whole year. By collecting samples (gas and particle) with a high-volume active air sampler (HV-AAS), nine NBFRs were analyzed and the sum concentrations ranged from 1.65 to 344 pg/m3, with the highest value found in the urban sampling site in Shijiazhuang City. Decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) was the predominant congener, which accounted for 60% of ∑9NBFRs on average, while it was 90% of ∑9NBFRs in the rural site and significantly higher than those observed in the urban sites (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). The levels of particle-bound NBFRs were significantly correlated with the variation of total suspended particulates (TSP) and temperature (p < 0.01), indicating their evident impact on the spatio-temporal distribution of NBFRs. Moreover, a significantly positive correlation was observed between the concentrations of 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EH-TBB) and bis (2-ethyl-1-hexyl) tetrabromophthalate (BEH-TEBP) (p < 0.01). Monocyclic brominated flame retardants (including PBBz, PBT, PBEB, HBB and TBP-DBPE) were correlated with each other (p < 0.01) in both gas and particle phase, suggesting their co-occurrence and the similar source in the environment. The gas-particle partitioning behavior was well predicted by the Li-Jia Empirical Model, and the results indicated that the target NBFRs did not reach the equilibrium state in air. This is one of very few studies revealed the spatio-temporal distribution of atmospheric NBFRs in the BTH region.

Wildfire Particulates Enhance Phytoplankton Growth and Alter Communities in the South China Sea Under Wind‐Driven Upwelling

AbstractExtreme wildfire events and cyclones are on the rise across tropical regions in response to climate change. Despite assumptions about their impact on phytoplankton through nutrient supplies, field evidence is lacking, and their combined effects remain unclear. In an on‐site microcosm experiment conducted in the Xisha Islands, South China Sea (SCS) after Typhoon Noru, we observed enhanced phytoplankton growth in response to exposure to total suspended particulates (TSP) from wildfires (2 mg/L and 6 mg/L) under wind‐driven upwelling conditions. Upwelled nutrients had a limited effect on Chl‐a concentration due to phosphate depletion, by contrast, wildfire TSP contributed nutrients enriched in nitrogen and phosphate, resulting in a 3.30–5.61‐fold increase in Chl‐a. However, upwelled nutrients increased the diatom‐to‐dinoflagellate ratio from the initial 11.0 to 12.7, TSP at low and high levels reduced the ratio to 0.3–0.8 and significantly altered the communities, with 61.8% of species, including two dominant diatoms, negatively correlated with N and/or P supplies. Species diversity declined significantly at high TSP levels. These findings suggest that enhanced primary productivity by wildfires may come at the cost of an altered phytoplankton community. This field study improves understanding of the effects of simultaneous occurrences of multiple extreme climate events on marine ecosystems.

Co-analysis of total suspended particles and discharge reveals the dynamic of mercury input into glacier meltwater runoff in the northern Tibetan Plateau

Climate warming has accelerated glacier melting, releasing legacy pollutants such as mercury (Hg) into aquatic ecosystems. While the relationship between Hg in glacier meltwater runoff, total suspended particles (TSP), and runoff discharges has been established, the underlying inter-relationships and governing factors remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a continuous fixed-point sampling at Laohugou No. 12 Glacier in the northern Tibetan Plateau from June to September 2019 spanning the entire glacier ablation season. Our study analyzed the variations of Hg partition in the meltwater runoff and conducted a comprehensive co-analysis of Hg with TSP and discharge to uncover the dominant factors of Hg input into meltwater runoff. The concentration of total Hg (THg) in the meltwater runoff ranged from 0.7 to 112.6 ng/L, with an average concentration of 26.6 ± 25.1 ng/L. Particulate Hg (PHg) was found to be the predominant partition, while dissolved Hg (DHg) exhibited a notable increase in June and September. THg concentration significantly correlated with TSP concentration (r = 0.94, P < 0.01), exceeding the correlation with discharge (r = 0.76, P < 0.01) during the entire ablation period. However, further examination during varying hydrological periods revealed differing associations among Hg speciation concentrations, TSP concentration, and discharge. During the rising limb of the hydrograph, THg (r = 0.86, P < 0.01) and PHg concentrations (r = 0.87, P < 0.01) exhibited a significant correlation with TSP concentration, primarily driven by TSP, implying that Hg availability determines the Hg input into meltwater runoff. Conversely, during the recession limb of the hydrograph, THg concentration was primarily influenced by discharge (r = 0.85, P < 0.01). PHg (r = 0.84, P < 0.01) and TSP (r = 0.97, P < 0.01) concentrations were strongly influenced by discharge, indicating that hydraulic action is the dominant factor affecting Hg input. Our study elucidated the impact of glacier hydrological processes on Hg transport, revealing the dominant factors of Hg input during different hydrological periods. This contributes to a deeper understanding of Hg input into meltwater runoff and improves predictions of Hg export through glacier melt in high mountain regions.

Stochastic Assessment of Predictions and Uncertainties for Reflectance Losses Based on Experimental Data for Three Australian Sites

A stochastic reflectance loss model is applied to extended datasets of experimental data collected at three sites in Australia, each representative of a different environment: urban, rural, and remote outback. The three sites are analysed in terms of TSP (Total Suspended Particles) or PM10 (Particulate Matter below 10µm in diameter), depending on the available dust sampler deployed at each location. Assessment of seasonal and daily patterns are also performed for further understanding of local phenomena likely to affect soiling in the area. Airborne dust concentration data are exploited to provide density distributions of expected daily reflectance losses. These mean losses for the three sites are 0.31 pp/day, 0.72 pp/day, and 0.77pp/day for the outback, rural, and urban location, respectively. These values and their distributions are paramount for evaluation of a prospective plant profitability, planning for operating plants cleaning scheduling, and assessment of a prospective CSP location at site selection phase. The developed methodology is capable of providing highly valuable information based on easily measurable airborne dust concentration data only, hence becoming a critical step for de-risking CSP plants financing and deployment.

Particulate matter in necropsy activities: experience from a health operators’ exposure monitoring campaign

BackgroundOperators in the obituary and necropsy sectors are exposed to various environmental hazards during specific tasks. Despite this exposure, occupational risks have often been underestimated, resulting in a lack of substantial evidence. The primary objectives of this study were to identify sources of chemical risk, establish procedures for monitoring and quantifying exposure during necropsy activities, and recommend adjustments to regulatory guidelines to protect the health of the operators. The study was conducted at the Legal Medicine Unit of the Umberto I General Hospital in Rome, focusing on the quantitative measurement of particulate matter (PM) exposure among at-risk operators during necropsy activities. Environmental levels of total suspended particles, PM10, PM4, PM2.5, and PM1 were assessed by evaluating the average, minimum, and maximum instantaneous indoor concentrations using an airborne analyzer.ResultsThe monitoring activities revealed that the PM concentrations were significantly lower than the recognized reference values. However, bone sawing, body removal, and cleaning were identified as high-risk maneuvers for dust suspension.ConclusionsOur study highlighted specific risks associated with necropsy activities, particularly concerning timing and certain maneuvers. These results may lead to interventions for improving current prevention procedures, implementing good practices, and developing specific guidelines to enhance operator safety.

Hygroscopic growth and activation changed submicron aerosol composition and properties in the North China Plain

Abstract. Aerosol hygroscopic growth and activation under high-relative-humidity (RH) conditions significantly influence the physicochemical properties of submicron aerosols (PM1). However, this process remains poorly characterized due to limited measurements. To address this gap, we deployed an advanced aerosol–fog sampling system that automatically switched between PM1, PM2.5 and total suspended particulate (TSP) inlets at a rural site in the North China Plain in the cold season. The results revealed that aerosol swelling due to water vapor uptake influenced aerosol sampling under high-RH conditions by shifting the cut-off size of impactors. At subsaturated high RH (&gt; 90 %), over 25 % of aerosol mass with dry diameters below 1 µm resided in supermicron ranges, while in supersaturated foggy conditions, more than 70 % of submicron aerosol migrated to supermicron ranges. Hygroscopic growth and activation particularly affected highly hydrophilic inorganic salts, shifting a significant number of submicron sulfate and nitrate particles to supermicron ranges, with 27 %–33 % at 95 % ≤ RH ≤ 99 % and more than 78 % under supersaturated foggy conditions. Moreover, more than 10 % of submicron biomass burning organic aerosols grew beyond 2.5 µm during fog events, while fossil-fuel-related organic aerosol (FFOA) remained dominantly in submicron ranges, suggesting inefficient aqueous conversion of FFOA. The two secondary organic aerosol (SOA) factors (OOA1 and OOA2) behaved differently under supersaturated conditions, with OOA2 exhibiting a higher activated fraction despite a lower oxygen / carbon ratio. A substantial increase in organic nitrate and organosulfur mass concentrations in activated droplets during fog events suggested aqueous conversions and formations of brown carbon with potential radiative impacts. Overall, our study highlights remarkably different cloud and fog processing behaviors between primary and secondary aerosols, which would benefit a better understanding of aerosol–cloud interactions under distinct atmospheric conditions.

Risk Elements in Total Suspended Particles in Areas Affected by Opencast Mining of Brown Coal

Background: The total suspended particles (TSPs) and selected risk element contents were determined in two medium-sized cities, Litvínov and Sokolov (both in North Bohemia, Czech Republic), where the environment is adversely affected by opencast brown coal mining, coal-related industries, and the petrochemical industry. Methods: TSP samples were collected monthly for three years. Results and Discussion: The results showed significant (p &lt; 0.05) differences in the TSP deposition in different seasons of the year, with the highest values in spring, followed by summer, and the lowest in autumn and winter. This is most likely due to increased coal mining activity in the spring and summer. The amount of the elements associated with the TSP showed mostly a similar pattern. The potential risk of these elements for human health was assessed as the average daily dose (ADD) for ingestion of the individual elements and subsequently calculated hazard quotients (HQ). Elevated oral ADD levels were recorded, especially for children. Among the risk elements, arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) were identified as the most hazardous. Conclusions: The results indicated that the TSP-related risk elements do not represent a serious health risk, but many questions concerning the sources of elements in the area and their bioaccessibility remain open for further research.

Temporal shifts in sources and composition of particulate metals in an environmental justice community: Impacts of continued emission reductions, COVID-19, and wildfires

In this study, we evaluated trends in the composition and source contributions of ambient particulate metals, many of which are toxic air contaminants, in Paramount, California. Paramount is an environmental justice community disproportionately impacted by air pollution from multiple emission sources near sensitive receptors. Concentrations of ambient metals bound to total suspended particulates (TSP) were measured hourly using a Xact 625 ambient metal monitor between 2017 and 2020. The Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model identified traffic, industry, and soil dust as major contributors. Results showed that contributions of traffic and soil dust noticeably declined during the COVID-19 lockdown period (March–April 2020) due to reduced human activities but reverted to normal levels within a few months. Industry-related factors, however, dropped significantly during this period and remained low throughout the year. Contributions from industry-related sources in Paramount began declining even before 2020, despite no similar trend in regional levels, implying local emission reductions. These reductions resulted from tariffs, decreased demand, regulatory actions by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and voluntary controls by local facilities. Consequently, Paramount is experiencing drastically lower levels of metals (up to 80%, depending on the metal and source) from metal-processing facilities and related sources. Moreover, we observed markedly elevated concentrations of several metals (e.g., Ba, Ca, Mn, K, etc.) during the unprecedented September 2020 wildfires that engulfed much of the western US, adding to the limited body of studies on this phenomenon and emphasizing the considerable impact of massive wildfires on ambient levels of particulate metals.

Masks As a New Hotspot for Antibiotic Resistance Gene Spread: Reveal the Contribution of Atmospheric Pollutants and Potential Risks.

The consumption of disposable surgical masks (DSMs) considerably increased during the coronavirus pandemic in 2019. Herein, we explored the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the potential risks of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) on DSMs. At environmentally relevant concentrations, the conjugate transfer frequency (CTF) of ARGs increased by 1.34-2.37 folds by 20 μg/m3 of atmospheric water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIIs), and it increased by 2.62-2.86 folds by 80 ng/m3 of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Total suspended particulates (TSP) further promoted the CTF in combination with WSIIs or PAHs. Under WSII and PAH exposure, gene expression levels related to oxidative stress, cell membrane, and the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were upregulated. WSIIs predominantly induced cellular contact, while PAHs triggered ATP formation and membrane damage. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that WSIIs and PAHs reduced membrane lipid fluidity and increased membrane permeability through interactions with the phosphatidylcholine bilayer. DSM filtering performance decreased, and the CTF of ARGs increased with the wearing time. The gut simulator test showed that ARB disrupted the human gut microbial community and increased total ARG abundance but did not change the ARG abundance carried by ARB themselves. A mathematical model showed that long-term WSII and PAH exposure accelerated ARG dissemination in DSMs.

The microbiome of Total Suspended Particles (TSP) and its influence on the respiratory microbiome of healthy office workers.

Air particulate matter (PM) is widely recognized for its potential to negatively affect human health, including changes in the upper respiratory microbiome. However, research on PM-associated microbiota remains limited and mostly focused on PM (e.g., PM2.5 and PM10). This study aims to characterize for the first time the microbiome of Total Suspended Particles (TSP) and investigate the correlations of indoor TSP with the human upper respiratory microbiome. Biological and environmental samples were collected over three collection periods lasting three weeks each, between May and July 2022 at the University of Milan and the University of Insubria Como. TSP were sampled using a filter-based technique, while respiratory samples from both anterior nares (AN) and the nasopharynx (NP) were collected using swabs. Microbiome analysis of both human (N = 145) and TSP (N = 51) samples was conducted on metagenomic sequencing data. A comparison of indoor and outdoor TSP microbiomes revealed differences in microbial diversity and taxonomic composition. The indoor samples had higher relative abundance of environmental bacteria often associated with opportunistic infections like Paracoccus sp., as well as respiratory bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Additionally, both indoor and outdoor TSP samples contained broad spectrum antibiotic resistance genes. Indoor TSP exposure was negatively associated with commensal bacteria and positively associated with Staphylococcus aureus relative abundance. Finally, a correlation between the relative abundance of respiratory bacteria identified in the indoor TSP and the upper respiratory microbiome was found, suggesting a potential interaction between TSP and the upper airways.

Air quality assessment of poultry and swine houses in Chonburi Province

ABSTRACT The increased consumption of animal products has led to a proliferation of animal husbandry operations, particularly in agricultural countries. Animal husbandry facilities or livestock farming directly impact the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the environment, giving rise to various issues such as odors, contamination of water and air sources with pathogens, and potential contamination of meat products originating from these facilities. This research aims to assess the impacts on the physical (temperature, relative humidity and air velocity), chemical (carbon dioxide, total volatile organic compounds and particulate matter), and biological air quality assessment (amount and type of bioaerosols) aspects resulting from pig and poultry farming. The findings will serve as valuable data for managing and addressing these aforementioned issues. It was found that both in poultry and swine houses generated total suspended particles (TSP) and PM10 (Particulate Matter with a diameter of 10 µm or less). Analysis of poultry house exhaust revealed elevated concentrations of TSP and PM10 exceeding established health benchmarks. Chickens tend to produce a higher concentration of VOCs (2.07 ± 0.57 ppm) compared to swine (0.82 ± 0.53 ppm). Staphylococcus epidermidis was predominant bacteria in both swine and poultry houses while Cladosporium sp was the most prevalent fungi in poultry houses. These results in this study are very useful for developing targeted mitigation strategies, products, devices to address specific pollutants produced by each type of livestock, reducing overall environmental impact and improving air quality within and around animal husbandry facilities. Implications: This research highlights how the growing demand for meat is affecting the environment, especially in farming areas. By studying the effects of pig and poultry farming on things like air and water quality, the study shows the challenges these farms pose, like bad smells and pollution. They found that both types of farms release a lot of tiny particles and smelly chemicals into the air, but there are differences between them. Understanding these findings can help us develop ways to reduce the pollution from these farms and make the air cleaner for everyone.

The Impact of Human Activities on Air Pollution in the Fallujah City, Al-Anbar Province – West Iraq

Air pollutant field study and laboratory sample analyses revealed that most of the air pollutants in Fallujah City come from various human activities. These activities: Factories, Bakeries, Private electric generators, etc represent the major sources of gaseous and particulate pollutants. Those emissions have affected the air quality of the air in study areas. This research aimed to identify air pollutant concentrations, and their effects, and develop immediate solutions to reduce their health and environmental impacts. Air pollutant measurements were taken for four sites, with each site having generators and bakeries, another five sites representing industrial activities, and another site representing the residential areas. These measurements which included total suspended particles (TSP), PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphate dioxide (SO2), methane (CH4) and (CO) were conducted in the winter and summer seasons. The plaster and asphalt factories and industrial district locations recorded the highest concentrations of particle pollutants (TSP, PM10, and PM2.5) and gases (NO2, SO2, CH4, and CO). It was also observed that there was an increase in the concentrations of total suspended particles, in addition to some gases measured at the sites of bread ovens and private electric generators, especially in the summer. Most of the sites recorded values higher than the local environmental allowable limits. The high concentrations of air pollutants measured at the study sites are due to the increased demand for electrical energy and the use of private electrical generators to compensate for the lack of electrical energy emitted by high air pollutants. In addition to the emissions of cement, plaster, and asphalt factories and the large quantities of suspended particles they release into the atmosphere resulting from crushing operations and loading operations for raw materials, in addition to the polluting gases they release resulting from the use of black oil, as well as the use of black oil as fuel in the bakeries, which leads to an increase in pollutant concentrations will, therefore, negatively affect air quality.