A WRF-CMAQ modeling of atmospheric peroxyacetyl nitrate and source apportionment in Central China

Atmospheric peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), as an essential constituent in the photochemical smog, is formed from photochemical reactions between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx. However, limited regional studies on distribution, formation and sources of PAN restrict the further understanding of the atmospheric behavior and environmental significance of PAN. In this study, the variation characteristics of PAN and the influencing factors to PAN concentrations were investigated using the WRF-CMAQ model simulation in the central China during July 2019. The results showed that the monthly mean concentration of PAN in the near-surface layer was 0.4 ppbv and increased with the height rising, accompanied by strong intra-day variation. The process analysis suggested that the removal was mainly controlled by dry deposition (57 %), followed by the gas-phase chemistry (43 %) which was mainly attributed to the thermal decomposition. Based on the sensitivity simulation, PAN concentrations decreased effectively in most of the simulated regions when precursors of VOCs and NOx emissions were reduced, and PAN concentrations were more sensitive to VOCs emissions than NOx emissions. The reduction of NOx and VOCs could lead to enhanced atmospheric oxidation in east-central region, which in turn hindered the decrease of PAN concentrations. During the simulation period, we found that emissions from industry and transportation sectors had the greatest impact on PAN concentrations in the central China, with contributions of 39 %-49 % and 33 %-41 %, respectively.

Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from Volatile Chemical Product Emissions: Model Parameters and Contributions to Anthropogenic Aerosol

Volatile chemical products (VCP) are an increasingly important source of hydrocarbon and oxygenated volatile organic compound (OVOC) emissions to the atmosphere, and these emissions are likely to play an important role as anthropogenic precursors for secondary organic aerosol (SOA). While the SOA from VCP hydrocarbons is often accounted for in models, the formation, evolution, and properties of SOA from VCP OVOCs remain uncertain. We use environmental chamber data and a kinetic model to develop SOA parameters for 10 OVOCs representing glycols, glycol ethers, esters, oxygenated aromatics, and amines. Model simulations suggest that the SOA mass yields for these OVOCs are of the same magnitude as widely studied SOA precursors (e.g., long-chain alkanes, monoterpenes, and single-ring aromatics), and these yields exhibit a linear correlation with the carbon number of the precursor. When combined with emissions inventories for two megacities in the United States (US) and a US-wide inventory, we find that VCP VOCs react with OH to form 0.8-2.5× as much SOA, by mass, as mobile sources. Hydrocarbons (terpenes, branched and cyclic alkanes) and OVOCs (terpenoids, glycols, glycol ethers) make up 60-75 and 25-40% of the SOA arising from VCP use, respectively. This work contributes to the growing body of knowledge focused on studying VCP VOC contributions to urban air pollution.

Toxicological Effects of Secondary Air Pollutants

Secondary air pollutants, originating from gaseous pollutants and primary particulate matter emitted by natural sources and human activities, undergo complex atmospheric chemical reactions and multiphase processes. Secondary gaseous pollutants represented by ozone and secondary particulate matter, including sulfates, nitrates, ammonium salts, and secondary organic aerosols, are formed in the atmosphere, affecting air quality and human health. This paper summarizes the formation pathways and mechanisms of important atmospheric secondary pollutants. Meanwhile, different secondary pollutants' toxicological effects and corresponding health risks are evaluated. Studies have shown that secondary pollutants are generally more toxic than primary ones. However, due to their diverse source and complex generation mechanism, the study of the toxicological effects of secondary pollutants is still in its early stages. Therefore, this paper first introduces the formation mechanism of secondary gaseous pollutants and focuses mainly on ozone's toxicological effects. In terms of particulate matter, secondary inorganic and organic particulate matters are summarized separately, then the contribution and toxicological effects of secondary components formed from primary carbonaceous aerosols are discussed. Finally, secondary pollutants generated in the indoor environment are briefly introduced. Overall, a comprehensive review of secondary air pollutants may shed light on the future toxicological and health effects research of secondary air pollutants.

Organic Peroxides in Aerosol: Key Reactive Intermediates for Multiphase Processes in the Atmosphere

Organic peroxides (POs) are organic molecules with one or more peroxide (-O-O-) functional groups. POs are commonly regarded as chemically labile termination products from gas-phase radical chemistry and therefore serve as temporary reservoirs for oxidative radicals (HOx and ROx) in the atmosphere. Owing to their ubiquity, active gas-particle partitioning behavior, and reactivity, POs are key reactive intermediates in atmospheric multiphase processes determining the life cycle (formation, growth, and aging), climate, and health impacts of aerosol. However, there remain substantial gaps in the origin, molecular diversity, and fate of POs due to their complex nature and dynamic behavior. Here, we summarize the current understanding on atmospheric POs, with a focus on their identification and quantification, state-of-the-art analytical developments, molecular-level formation mechanisms, multiphase chemical transformation pathways, as well as environmental and health impacts. We find that interactions with SO2 and transition metal ions are generally the fast PO transformation pathways in atmospheric liquid water, with lifetimes estimated to be minutes to hours, while hydrolysis is particularly important for α-substituted hydroperoxides. Meanwhile, photolysis and thermolysis are likely minor sinks for POs. These multiphase PO transformation pathways are distinctly different from their gas-phase fates, such as photolysis and reaction with OH radicals, which highlights the need to understand the multiphase partitioning of POs. By summarizing the current advances and remaining challenges for the investigation of POs, we propose future research priorities regarding their origin, fate, and impacts in the atmosphere.

Evidence for the coupling of refill liquids content and new particle formation in electronic cigarette vapors

The size and chemical content of particles in electronic cigarette vapors (e-vapors) dictate their fate in the human body. Understanding how particles in e-vapors are formed and their size is critical to identifying and mitigating the adverse consequences of vaping. Thermal decomposition and reactions of the refill liquid (e-liquid) components play a key role in new particles formation. Here we report the evolution of particle number concentration in e-vapors over time for variable mixtures of refill e-liquids and operating conditions. Particle with aerodynamic diameter < 300 nm accounted for up to 17% (or 780 μg/m³) of e-vapors particles. Two events of increasing particle number concentration were observed, 2-3 s after puff completion and a second 4-5 s later. The intensity of each event varied by the abundance of propylene glycol, glycerol, and flavorings in e-liquids. Propylene glycol and glycerol were associated with the first event. Flavorings containing aromatic and aliphatic unsaturated functional groups were strongly associated with the second event and to a lesser extent with the first one. The results indicate that particles in e-vapors may be formed through the heteromolecular condensation of propylene glycol, glycerol, and flavorings, including both parent chemicals and/or their thermal decomposition products.

Roles of semivolatile and intermediate-volatility organic compounds in secondary organic aerosol formation and its implication: A review

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is a very important component of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in the atmosphere. However, the simulations of SOA, which could help to elucidate the detailed mechanism of SOA formation and quantify the roles of various precursors, remains unsatisfactory, as SOA levels are frequently underestimated. It has been found that the performance of SOA formation models can be significantly improved by incorporating the emission and evolution of semivolatile and intermediate-volatility organic compounds (S/IVOCs). In order to explore the roles of S/IVOCs in SOA formation, this study reviews some simulation models which could consider S/IVOCs for SOA formation as well as the development of emission inventories of S/IVOCs and S/IVOC modules for SOA formation. In addition, the future research directions for simulations of the effect of S/IVOCs on SOA formation are suggested.

Pathways to Highly Oxidized Products in the Δ3-Carene + OH System

Oxidation of the monoterpene Δ3-carene (C₁₀H₁₆) is a potentially important and understudied source of atmospheric secondary organic aerosol (SOA). We present chamber-based measurements of speciated gas and particle phases during photochemical oxidation of Δ3-carene. We find evidence of highly oxidized organic molecules (HOMs) in the gas phase and relatively low-volatility SOA dominated by C₇-C₁₀ species. We then use computational methods to develop the first stages of a Δ3-carene photochemical oxidation mechanism and explain some of our measured compositions. We find that alkoxy bond scission of the cyclohexyl ring likely leads to efficient HOM formation, in line with previous studies. We also find a surprising role for the abstraction of primary hydrogens from methyl groups, which has been calculated to be rapid in the α-pinene system, and suggest more research is required to determine if this is more general to other systems and a feature of autoxidation. This work develops a more comprehensive view of Δ3-carene photochemical oxidation products via measurements and lays out a suggested mechanism of oxidation via computationally derived rate coefficients.

Primary emissions and secondary production of organic aerosols from heated animal fats

Cooking is an important source of primary organic aerosol (POA) in urban areas, and it may also generate abundant non-methane organic gases (NMOGs), which form oxidized organic aerosol (OOA) after atmospheric oxidation. Edible fats play an important role in a balanced diet and are part of various types of cooking. We conducted laboratory studies to examine the primary emissions of POA and NMOGs and OOA formation using an oxidation flow reactor (OFR) for three animal fats (i.e., lard, beef and chicken fats) heated at two different temperatures (160 and 180 °C). Positive matrix factorization (PMF) revealed that OOA formed together with POA loss after photochemical aging, suggesting the conversion of some POA to OOA. The maximum OOA production rates (PRs) from heated animal fats, occurring under OH exposures (OHexp) of 8.3-15 × 10¹⁰ molecules cm^-3 s, ranged from 8.9 to 24.7 μg min^-1, 1.6-14.5 times as high as initial POA emission rates (ERs). NMOG emissions from heated animal fats were dominated by aldehydes, which contributed 14-71% of the observed OOA. We estimated that cooking-related OOA could contribute to as high as ~10% of total organic aerosol (OA) in an urban area in Hong Kong, where cooking OA (COA) dominated the POA. This study provides insights into the potential contribution of cooking to urban OOA, which might be especially pronounced when cooking contributions dominate the primary emissions.

Efficient alkane oxidation under combustion engine and atmospheric conditions

Oxidation chemistry controls both combustion processes and the atmospheric transformation of volatile emissions. In combustion engines, radical species undergo isomerization reactions that allow fast addition of O₂. This chain reaction, termed autoxidation, is enabled by high engine temperatures, but has recently been also identified as an important source for highly oxygenated species in the atmosphere, forming organic aerosol. Conventional knowledge suggests that atmospheric autoxidation requires suitable structural features, like double bonds or oxygen-containing moieties, in the precursors. With neither of these functionalities, alkanes, the primary fuel type in combustion engines and an important class of urban trace gases, are thought to have minor susceptibility to extensive autoxidation. Here, utilizing state-of-the-art mass spectrometry, measuring both radicals and oxidation products, we show that alkanes undergo autoxidation much more efficiently than previously thought, both under atmospheric and combustion conditions. Even at high concentrations of NO_X, which typically rapidly terminates autoxidation in urban areas, the studied C₆-C₁₀ alkanes produce considerable amounts of highly oxygenated products that can contribute to urban organic aerosol. The results of this inter-disciplinary effort provide crucial information on oxidation processes in both combustion engines and the atmosphere, with direct implications for engine efficiency and urban air quality.

Impact of surface ozone interactions on indoor air chemistry: A modeling study

An INdoor air Detailed Chemical Model was developed to investigate the impact of ozone reactions with indoor surfaces (including occupants), on indoor air chemistry in simulated apartments subject to ambient air pollution. The results are consistent with experimental studies showing that approximately 80% of ozone indoors is lost through deposition to surfaces. The human body removes ozone most effectively from indoor air per square meter of surface, but the most significant surfaces for C₆ -C₁₀ aldehyde formation are soft furniture and painted walls owing to their large internal surfaces. Mixing ratios of between 8 and 11 ppb of C₆ -C₁₀ aldehydes are predicted to form in apartments in various locations in summer, the highest values are when ozone concentrations are enhanced outdoors. The most important aldehyde formed indoors is predicted to be nonanal (5-7 ppb), driven by oxidation-derived emissions from painted walls. In addition, ozone-derived emissions from human skin were estimated for a small bedroom at nighttime with concentrations of nonanal, decanal, and 4-oxopentanal predicted to be 0.5, 0.7, and 0.7 ppb, respectively. A detailed chemical analysis shows that ozone-derived surface aldehyde emissions from materials and people change chemical processing indoors, through enhanced formation of nitrated organic compounds and decreased levels of oxidants.

Simulations of smog-chamber experiments using the two-dimensional volatility basis set: linear oxygenated precursors

We use a two-dimensional volatility basis set (2D-VBS) box model to simulate secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mass yields of linear oxygenated molecules: n-tridecanal, 2- and 7-tridecanone, 2- and 7-tridecanol, and n-pentadecane. A hybrid model with explicit, a priori treatment of the first-generation products for each precursor molecule, followed by a generic 2D-VBS mechanism for later-generation chemistry, results in excellent model-measurement agreement. This strongly confirms that the 2D-VBS mechanism is a predictive tool for SOA modeling but also suggests that certain important first-generation products for major primary SOA precursors should be treated explicitly for optimal SOA predictions.

Aging of biogenic secondary organic aerosol via gas-phase OH radical reactions

The Multiple Chamber Aerosol Chemical Aging Study (MUCHACHAS) tested the hypothesis that hydroxyl radical (OH) aging significantly increases the concentration of first-generation biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA). OH is the dominant atmospheric oxidant, and MUCHACHAS employed environmental chambers of very different designs, using multiple OH sources to explore a range of chemical conditions and potential sources of systematic error. We isolated the effect of OH aging, confirming our hypothesis while observing corresponding changes in SOA properties. The mass increases are consistent with an existing gap between global SOA sources and those predicted in models, and can be described by a mechanism suitable for implementation in those models.

Photochemical aging of α-pinene secondary organic aerosol: effects of OH radical sources and photolysis

This study addresses photochemical aging of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) produced from α-pinene ozonolysis. The SOA is aged via hydroxyl radical (OH) reactions with first-generation vapors and UV photolysis. OH radicals are created through tetramethylethylene ozonolysis, HOOH photolysis, or HONO photolysis, sources that vary in OH concentration and the presence or absence of UV illumination. Aging strongly influences observed SOA mass concentrations, but the behavior is complex. In the dark or with high concentrations of OH, vapors are functionalized, lowering their volatility, resulting in an increase in OA by a factor of 2-3. However, with lower concentrations of OH under UV illumination SOA mass concentrations decrease over time. We attribute this decrease to evaporation driven by photolysis of the highly functionalized second-generation products. The photolysis rates are rapid, a few percent of the NO(2) photolysis frequency, and can thus be highly competitive with other aging mechanisms in the atmosphere.