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Pan D, Mauzerall DL, Wang R, Guo X, Puchalski M, Guo Y, Song S, Tong D, Sullivan AP, Schichtel BA, Collett JL, Zondlo MA. Regime shift in secondary inorganic aerosol formation and nitrogen deposition in the rural United States. NATURE GEOSCIENCE 2024; 17:617-623. [PMID: 39006244 PMCID: PMC11245397 DOI: 10.1038/s41561-024-01455-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Secondary inorganic aerosols play an important role in air pollution and climate change, and their formation modulates the atmospheric deposition of reactive nitrogen (including oxidized and reduced nitrogen), thus impacting the nitrogen cycle. Large-scale and long-term analyses of secondary inorganic aerosol formation based on model simulations have substantial uncertainties. Here we improve constraints on secondary inorganic aerosol formation using decade-long in situ observations of aerosol composition and gaseous precursors from multiple monitoring networks across the United States. We reveal a shift in the secondary inorganic aerosol formation regime in the rural United States between 2011 and 2020, making rural areas less sensitive to changes in ammonia concentrations and shortening the effective atmospheric lifetime of reduced forms of reactive nitrogen. This leads to potential increases in reactive nitrogen deposition near ammonia emission hotspots, with ecosystem impacts warranting further investigation. Ammonia (NH3), a critical but not directly regulated precursor of fine particulate matter in the United States, has been increasingly scrutinized to improve air quality. Our findings, however, show that controlling NH3 became significantly less effective for mitigating fine particulate matter in the rural United States. We highlight the need for more collocated aerosol and precursor observations for better characterization of secondary inorganic aerosols formation in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Pan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ USA
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Denise L Mauzerall
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ USA
- Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ USA
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ USA
| | - Xuehui Guo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ USA
- Present Address: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA USA
| | - Melissa Puchalski
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Washington, DC USA
| | - Yixin Guo
- Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ USA
- Present Address: Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shaojie Song
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control & Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Daniel Tong
- Atmospheric, Oceanic & Earth Sciences Department and Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA USA
| | - Amy P Sullivan
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Bret A Schichtel
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, CO USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Jeffrey L Collett
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Mark A Zondlo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ USA
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2
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Driscoll C, Milford JB, Henze DK, Bell MD. Atmospheric reduced nitrogen: Sources, transformations, effects, and management. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2024; 74:362-415. [PMID: 38819428 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2024.2342765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Human activities have increased atmospheric emissions and deposition of oxidized and reduced forms of nitrogen, but emission control programs have largely focused on oxidized nitrogen. As a result, in many regions of the world emissions of oxidized nitrogen are decreasing while emissions of reduced nitrogen are increasing. Emissions of reduced nitrogen largely originate from livestock waste and fertilizer application, with contributions from transportation sources in urban areas. Observations suggest a discrepancy between trends in emissions and deposition of reduced nitrogen in the U.S., likely due to an underestimate in emissions. In the atmosphere, ammonia reacts with oxides of sulfur and nitrogen to form fine particulate matter that impairs health and visibility and affects climate forcings. Recent reductions in emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides have limited partitioning with ammonia, decreasing long-range transport. Continuing research is needed to improve understanding of how shifting emissions alter formation of secondary particulates and patterns of transport and deposition of reactive nitrogen. Satellite remote sensing has potential for monitoring atmospheric concentrations and emissions of ammonia, but there remains a need to maintain and strengthen ground-based measurements and continue development of chemical transport models. Elevated nitrogen deposition has decreased plant and soil microbial biodiversity and altered the biogeochemical function of terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal ecosystems. Further study is needed on differential effects of oxidized versus reduced nitrogen and pathways and timescales of ecosystem recovery from elevated nitrogen deposition. Decreases in deposition of reduced nitrogen could alleviate exceedances of critical loads for terrestrial and freshwater indicators in many U.S. areas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should consider using critical loads as a basis for setting standards to protect public welfare and ecosystems. The U.S. and other countries might look to European experience for approaches to control emissions of reduced nitrogen from agricultural and transportation sectors.Implications: In this Critical Review we synthesize research on effects, air emissions, environmental transformations, and management of reduced forms of nitrogen. Emissions of reduced nitrogen affect human health, the structure and function of ecosystems, and climatic forcings. While emissions of oxidized forms of nitrogen are regulated in the U.S., controls on reduced forms are largely absent. Decreases in emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides coupled with increases in ammonia are shifting the gas-particle partitioning of ammonia and decreasing long-range atmospheric transport of reduced nitrogen. Effort is needed to understand, monitor, and manage emissions of reduced nitrogen in a changing environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Driscoll
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Jana B Milford
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Daven K Henze
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Michael D Bell
- Ecologist, National Park Service - Air Resources Division, Boulder, CO, USA
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3
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Zheng L, Adalibieke W, Zhou F, He P, Chen Y, Guo P, He J, Zhang Y, Xu P, Wang C, Ye J, Zhu L, Shen G, Fu TM, Yang X, Zhao S, Hakami A, Russell AG, Tao S, Meng J, Shen H. Health burden from food systems is highly unequal across income groups. NATURE FOOD 2024; 5:251-261. [PMID: 38486126 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-024-00946-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Food consumption contributes to the degradation of air quality in regions where food is produced, creating a contrast between the health burden caused by a specific population through its food consumption and that faced by this same population as a consequence of food production activities. Here we explore this inequality within China's food system by linking air-pollution-related health burden from production to consumption, at high levels of spatial and sectorial granularity. We find that low-income groups bear a 70% higher air-pollution-related health burden from food production than from food consumption, while high-income groups benefit from a 29% lower health burden relative to their food consumption. This discrepancy largely stems from a concentration of low-income residents in food production areas, exposed to higher emissions from agriculture. Comprehensive interventions targeting both production and consumption sides can effectively reduce health damages and concurrently mitigate associated inequalities, while singular interventions exhibit limited efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianming Zheng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wulahati Adalibieke
- Institute of Carbon Neutrality, Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Institute of Carbon Neutrality, Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- College of Geography and Remote Sensing, Hohai University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Pan He
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| | - Yilin Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peng Guo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinling He
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuanzheng Zhang
- Institute of Carbon Neutrality, Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianhuai Ye
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lei Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guofeng Shen
- Institute of Carbon Neutrality, Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tzung-May Fu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shunliu Zhao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amir Hakami
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Armistead G Russell
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shu Tao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Carbon Neutrality, Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Meng
- The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Huizhong Shen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
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4
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Gu Z, Han J, Zhang L, Wang H, Luo X, Meng X, Zhang Y, Niu X, Lan Y, Wu S, Cao J, Lichtfouse E. Unanswered questions on the airborne transmission of COVID-19. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2023; 21:725-739. [PMID: 36628267 PMCID: PMC9816530 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-022-01557-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Policies and measures to control pandemics are often failing. While biological factors controlling transmission are usually well explored, little is known about the environmental drivers of transmission and infection. For instance, respiratory droplets and aerosol particles are crucial vectors for the airborne transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the causation agent of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic (COVID-19). Once expectorated, respiratory droplets interact with atmospheric particulates that influence the viability and transmission of the novel coronavirus, yet there is little knowledge on this process or its consequences on virus transmission and infection. Here we review the effects of atmospheric particulate properties, vortex zones, and air pollution on virus survivability and transmission. We found that particle size, chemical constituents, electrostatic charges, and the moisture content of airborne particles can have notable effects on virus transmission, with higher survival generally associated with larger particles, yet some viruses are better preserved on small particles. Some chemical constituents and surface-adsorbed chemical species may damage peptide bonds in viral proteins and impair virus stability. Electrostatic charges and water content of atmospheric particulates may affect the adherence of virion particles and possibly their viability. In addition, vortex zones and human thermal plumes are major environmental factors altering the aerodynamics of buoyant particles in air, which can strongly influence the transport of airborne particles and the transmission of associated viruses. Insights into these factors may provide explanations for the widely observed positive correlations between COVID-19 infection and mortality with air pollution, of which particulate matter is a common constituent that may have a central role in the airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10311-022-01557-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaolin Gu
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Han
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Liyuan Zhang
- School of Water and Environment, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongliang Wang
- Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xilian Luo
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiangzhao Meng
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Architecture, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Niu
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yang Lan
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shaowei Wu
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Junji Cao
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029 People’s Republic of China
| | - Eric Lichtfouse
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 Shaanxi People’s Republic of China
- CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE, Aix-Marseille University, 13100, Aix-en-Provence, France
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5
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Young LH, Hsiao TC, Griffith SM, Huang YH, Hsieh HG, Lin TH, Tsay SC, Lin YJ, Lai KL, Lin NH, Lin WY. Secondary inorganic aerosol chemistry and its impact on atmospheric visibility over an ammonia-rich urban area in Central Taiwan. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 312:119951. [PMID: 36002097 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the hourly inorganic aerosol chemistry and its impact on atmospheric visibility over an urban area in Central Taiwan, by relying on measurements of aerosol light extinction, inorganic gases, and PM2.5 water-soluble ions (WSIs), and simulations from a thermodynamic equilibrium model. On average, the sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3-), and ammonium (NH4+) components (SNA) contributed ∼90% of WSI concentrations, which in turn made up about 50% of the PM2.5 mass. During the entire observation period, PM2.5 and SNA concentrations, aerosol pH, aerosol liquid water content (ALWC), and sulfur and nitrogen conversion ratios all increased with decreasing visibility. In particular, the NO3- contribution to PM2.5 increased, whereas the SO42- contribution decreased, with decreasing visibility. The diurnal variations of the above parameters indicate that the interaction and likely mutual promotion between NO3- and ALWC enhanced the hygroscopicity and aqueous-phase reactions conducive for NO3- formation, thus led to severely impaired visibility. The high relative humidity (RH) at the study area (average 70.7%) was a necessary but not sole factor leading to enhanced NO3- formation, which was more directly associated with elevated ALWC and aerosol pH. Simulations from the thermodynamic model depict that the inorganic aerosol system in the study area was characterized by fully neutralized SO42- (i.e. a saturated factor in visibility reduction) and excess NH4+ amidst a NH3-rich environment. As a result, PM2.5 composition was most sensitive to gas-phase HNO3, and hence NOx, and relatively insensitive to NH3. Consequently, a reduction of NOx would result in instantaneous cuts of NO3-, PM2.5, and ALWC, and hence improved visibility. On the other hand, a substantial amount of NH3 reduction (>70%) would be required to lower the aerosol pH, driving more than 50% of the particulate phase NO3- to the gas phase, thereby making NH3 a limiting factor in shifting PM2.5 composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Hao Young
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, China Medical University, 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung, 406040, Taiwan.
| | - Ta-Chih Hsiao
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Stephen M Griffith
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, 300, Zhongda Rd., Zhongli Dist., Taoyuan, 320317, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Hsin Huang
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, China Medical University, 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung, 406040, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Gang Hsieh
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, China Medical University, 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung, 406040, Taiwan
| | - Tang-Huang Lin
- Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central University, 300, Zhongda Rd., Zhongli Dist., Taoyuan, 320317, Taiwan
| | - Si-Chee Tsay
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - Yu-Jung Lin
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, China Medical University, 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung, 406040, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Lin Lai
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, China Medical University, 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung, 406040, Taiwan
| | - Neng-Huei Lin
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, 300, Zhongda Rd., Zhongli Dist., Taoyuan, 320317, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Yinn Lin
- Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, 1, Sec. 3, Chung-Hsiao E. Rd., Taipei, 106344, Taiwan
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6
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Tackman EC, Grady RS, Freedman MA. Direct measurement of the pH of aerosol particles using carbon quantum dots. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2022; 14:2929-2936. [PMID: 35856566 DOI: 10.1039/d2ay01005d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The pH of aerosol particles remains challenging to measure because of their small size, complex composition, and high acidity. Acidity in aqueous aerosol particles, which are found abundantly in the atmosphere, impacts many chemical processes from reaction rates to cloud formation. Only one technique - pH paper - currently exists for directly determining the pH of aerosol particles, and this is restricted to measuring average acidity for entire particle populations. Other methods for evaluating aerosol pH include filter samples, particle-into-liquid sampling, Raman spectroscopy, organic dyes, and thermodynamic models, but these either operate in a higher pH range or are unable to assess certain chemical species or complexity. Here, we present a new method for determining acidity of individual particles and particle phases using carbon quantum dots as a novel in situ fluorophore. Carbon quantum dots are easily synthesized, shelf stable, and sensitive to pH in the highly acidic regime from pH 0 to pH 3 relevant to ambient aerosol particles. To establish the method, a calibration curve was formed from the ratiometric fluorescence intensity of aerosolized standard solutions with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.99. Additionally, the pH of aerosol particles containing a complex organic mixture (COM) representative of environmental aerosols was also determined, proving the efficacy of using carbon quantum dots as pH-sensitive fluorophores for complex systems. The ability to directly measure aerosol particle and phase acidity in the correct pH range can help parametrize atmospheric models and improve projections for other aerosol properties and their influence on health and climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Tackman
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Rachel S Grady
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Miriam Arak Freedman
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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7
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Sun X, Zong Z, Li Q, Shi X, Wang K, Lu L, Li B, Qi H, Tian C. Assessing the emission sources and reduction potential of atmospheric ammonia at an urban site in Northeast China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 198:111230. [PMID: 33984305 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric ammonium and ammonia have brought negative environmental impacts and adverse health effects. However, ammonia emissions are generally less regulated worldwide. This study analyzed ammonium pollution character, quantified the dominant ammonia emission sources, and assessed ammonia reduction potential in urban Harbin (China). The results showed that ammonium recorded low concentration in the non-heating season (1.34 ± 1.57 μg/m3), and recorded sharply increased concentration (6.50 ± 7.02 μg/m3) and relative abundance in the heating season. It was closely correlated with vehicle-related pollutants (CO) in non-heating season, while with biomass burning-related pollutants (K+, Cl-) in the heating season. Bayesian Mixing Model emphasized the increasing contribution of biomass burning and decreasing contribution of fertilizer as the pollution levels escalate. The results from the thermodynamic equilibrium model showed that a 50%-60% ammonium decrease could bring marketable decrements of the aerosol pH, aerosol water content, ammonium nitrate concentration, and inorganic ion mass. The results of this study would provide scientific bases for ammonia emission reduction and haze pollution control in urban Harbin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiazhong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Zheng Zong
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - QiangQiang Li
- 3Clear Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xiaofei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Kun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Lu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Bo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Hong Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China.
| | - Chongguo Tian
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China.
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8
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Zhang B, Shen H, Liu P, Guo H, Hu Y, Chen Y, Xie S, Xi Z, Skipper TN, Russell AG. Significant contrasts in aerosol acidity between China and the United States. ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS 2021; 21:8341-8356. [PMID: 38106813 PMCID: PMC10723067 DOI: 10.5194/acp-21-8341-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Aerosol acidity governs several key processes in aerosol physics and chemistry, thus affecting aerosol mass and composition and ultimately climate and human health. Previous studies have reported aerosol pH values separately in China and the United States (USA), implying different aerosol acidity between these two countries. However, there is debate about whether mass concentration or chemical composition is the more important driver of differences in aerosol acidity. A full picture of the pH difference and the underlying mechanisms responsible is hindered by the scarcity of simultaneous measurements of particle composition and gaseous species, especially in China. Here we conduct a comprehensive assessment of aerosol acidity in China and the USA using extended ground-level measurements and regional chemical transport model simulations. We show that aerosols in China are significantly less acidic than in the USA, with pH values 1-2 units higher. Based on a proposed multivariable Taylor series method and a series of sensitivity tests, we identify major factors leading to the pH difference. Compared to the USA, China has much higher aerosol mass concentrations (gas + particle, by a factor of 8.4 on average) and a higher fraction of total ammonia (gas + particle) in the aerosol composition. Our assessment shows that the differences in mass concentrations and chemical composition play equally important roles in driving the aerosol pH difference between China and the USA - increasing the aerosol mass concentrations (by a factor of 8.4) but keeping the relative component contributions the same in the USA as the level in China increases the aerosol pH by ~1.0 units and further shifting the chemical composition from US conditions to China's that are richer in ammonia increases the aerosol pH by ~0.9 units. Therefore, China being both more polluted than the USA and richer in ammonia explains the aerosol pH difference. The difference in aerosol acidity highlighted in the present study implies potential differences in formation mechanisms, physicochemical properties, and toxicity of aerosol particles in these two countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqing Zhang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Huizhong Shen
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Pengfei Liu
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Hongyu Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Yongtao Hu
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Yilin Chen
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Shaodong Xie
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Ziyan Xi
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - T. Nash Skipper
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Armistead G. Russell
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
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Shen H, Chen Y, Hu Y, Ran L, Lam SK, Pavur GK, Zhou F, Pleim JE, Russell AG. Intense Warming Will Significantly Increase Cropland Ammonia Volatilization Threatening Food Security and Ecosystem Health. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2020.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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