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Brean J, Rowell A, Beddows DC, Weinhold K, Mettke P, Merkel M, Tuch T, Rissanen M, Maso MD, Kumar A, Barua S, Iyer S, Karppinen A, Wiedensohler A, Shi Z, Harrison RM. Road Traffic Emissions Lead to Much Enhanced New Particle Formation through Increased Growth Rates. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:10664-10674. [PMID: 38850427 PMCID: PMC11191591 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
New particle formation (NPF) is a major source of atmospheric aerosol particles, including cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), by number globally. Previous research has highlighted that NPF is less frequent but more intense at roadsides compared to urban background. Here, we closely examine NPF at both background and roadside sites in urban Central Europe. We show that the concentration of oxygenated organic molecules (OOMs) is greater at the roadside, and the condensation of OOMs along with sulfuric acid onto new particles is sufficient to explain the growth at both sites. We identify a hitherto unreported traffic-related OOM source contributing 29% and 16% to total OOMs at the roadside and background, respectively. Critically, this hitherto undiscovered OOM source is an essential component of urban NPF. Without their contribution to growth rates and the subsequent enhancements to particle survival, the number of >50 nm particles produced by NPF would be reduced by a factor of 21 at the roadside site. Reductions to hydrocarbon emissions from road traffic may thereby reduce particle numbers and CCN counts.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Brean
- Division
of Environmental Health and Risk Management, School of Geography,
Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Rowell
- Division
of Environmental Health and Risk Management, School of Geography,
Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - David C.S. Beddows
- Division
of Environmental Health and Risk Management, School of Geography,
Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Kay Weinhold
- Leibniz
Institute for Tropospheric Research, Leipzig 04318, Germany
| | - Peter Mettke
- Leibniz
Institute for Tropospheric Research, Leipzig 04318, Germany
| | - Maik Merkel
- Leibniz
Institute for Tropospheric Research, Leipzig 04318, Germany
| | - Thomas Tuch
- Leibniz
Institute for Tropospheric Research, Leipzig 04318, Germany
| | - Matti Rissanen
- Aerosol
Physics laboratory, Tampere University, Tampere 33720, Finland
| | - Miikka Dal Maso
- Aerosol
Physics laboratory, Tampere University, Tampere 33720, Finland
| | - Avinash Kumar
- Aerosol
Physics laboratory, Tampere University, Tampere 33720, Finland
| | - Shawon Barua
- Aerosol
Physics laboratory, Tampere University, Tampere 33720, Finland
| | - Siddharth Iyer
- Aerosol
Physics laboratory, Tampere University, Tampere 33720, Finland
| | | | | | - Zongbo Shi
- Division
of Environmental Health and Risk Management, School of Geography,
Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Roy M. Harrison
- Division
of Environmental Health and Risk Management, School of Geography,
Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
- Department
of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and
Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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Zhang H, Wang J, Dong B, Xu F, Liu H, Zhang Q, Zong W, Shi X. New mechanism for the participation of aromatic oxidation products in atmospheric nucleation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170487. [PMID: 38296079 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Oxygenated organic molecules (OOMs) are recognized as important precursors for new particle formation (NPF) in the urban atmosphere. The paper theoretically studied the formation of OOMs by styrene oxidation processes initiated by OH radicals, focusing on the OOMs nucleation mechanism. The results found that in the presence of an H2SO4 molecule, lowly oxygenated organic molecules containing a benzene ring (LOMBs) can form stable clusters and grow to the scale of a critical nucleus through pi-pi stacking and OH hydrogen bonding. In addition, LOMBs are more readily generated in a styrene-oxidized system in the presence/absence of NOx than highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs). The reaction of OH radicals with other aromatics containing a branched chain on the benzene ring produces LOMBs to varying degrees, with pi-pi stacking playing an essential role. This result suggests that, in the presence of H2SO4 molecules, LOMBs may play a more significant role in promoting nucleation than HOMs. Our findings serve as a pivotal foundation for future investigations into the oxidation and nucleation processes of diverse aromatics in urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huidi Zhang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, PR China
| | - Juanbao Wang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, PR China
| | - Biao Dong
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, PR China
| | - Fei Xu
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Houfeng Liu
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, PR China
| | - Qingzhu Zhang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Wansong Zong
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, PR China
| | - Xiangli Shi
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, PR China.
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Yang C, Yao N, Xu L, Chen G, Wang Y, Fan X, Zhou P, Clusius P, Tham YJ, Lin Z, Chen Y, Li M, Hong Y, Chen J. Molecular Composition of Anthropogenic Oxygenated Organic Molecules and Their Contribution to Organic Aerosol in a Coastal City. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:15956-15967. [PMID: 37842878 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Organic aerosols (OA) have gained attention as a substantial component of atmospheric aerosols owing to their impact on atmospheric visibility, climate, and human health. Although oxygenated organic molecules (OOMs) are essential contributors to OA formation, the sources, transformations, and fates of the OOMs are not fully understood. Herein, anthropogenic OOMs (AOOMs), anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs), and OA were concurrently measured in Xiamen, a coastal city in southeastern China. Our results show that the AOOMs exhibited a high nitrogen content (76%) and a low oxidation degree. Strong photochemical processes of aromatic VOCs were the predominant sources of AOOMs. Also, NOx concentrations and the occurrence of multigeneration OH radical oxidations were the critical factors that might influence the formation of AOOMs. Finally, the newly developed aerosol dynamic model's results show that more than 35% of the OA mass growth rate is attributed to the gas-particle partitioning of AOOMs. Further sensitivity testing demonstrates that the contribution of AOOMs to OA growth is significantly enhanced during high-particulate-concentration periods, especially under low-temperature conditions. This study emphasizes the vital role of photochemically produced AOOMs derived from AVOCs in OA growth in a coastal urban atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Yang
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Ozone Pollution Prevention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Nianci Yao
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Lingling Xu
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Ozone Pollution Prevention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Gaojie Chen
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Ozone Pollution Prevention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yonghong Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Xiaolong Fan
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Ozone Pollution Prevention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Putian Zhou
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Petri Clusius
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Yee Jun Tham
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Ziyi Lin
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Ozone Pollution Prevention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuping Chen
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Ozone Pollution Prevention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mengren Li
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Ozone Pollution Prevention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Youwei Hong
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Ozone Pollution Prevention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Jinsheng Chen
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Ozone Pollution Prevention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
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