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Thomas AE, Bauer PS, Dam M, Perraud V, Wingen LM, Smith JN. Automotive braking is a source of highly charged aerosol particles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2313897121. [PMID: 38466875 PMCID: PMC10990126 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313897121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the last several decades have seen a dramatic reduction in emissions from vehicular exhaust, nonexhaust emissions (e.g., brake and tire wear) represent an increasingly significant class of traffic-related particulate pollution. Aerosol particles emitted from the wear of automotive brake pads contribute roughly half of the particle mass attributed to nonexhaust sources, while their relative contribution to urban air pollution overall will almost certainly grow coinciding with vehicle fleet electrification and the transition to alternative fuels. To better understand the implications of this growing prominence, a more thorough understanding of the physicochemical properties of brake wear particles (BWPs) is needed. Here, we investigate the electrical properties of BWPs as emitted from ceramic and semi-metallic brake pads. We show that up to 80% of BWPs emitted are electrically charged and that this fraction is strongly dependent on the specific brake pad material used. A dependence of the number of charges per particle on charge polarity and particle size is also demonstrated. We find that brake wear produces both positive and negative charged particles that can hold in excess of 30 elementary charges and show evidence that more negative charges are produced than positive. Our results will provide insights into the currently limited understanding of BWPs and their charging mechanisms, which potentially have significant implications on their atmospheric lifetimes and thus their relevance to climate and air quality. In addition, our study will inform future efforts to remove BWP emissions before entering the atmosphere by taking advantage of their electric charge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam E. Thomas
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
| | - Paulus S. Bauer
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
| | - Michelia Dam
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
| | | | - Lisa M. Wingen
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
| | - James N. Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
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Wright MD, Buckley AJ, Matthews JC, Shallcross DE, Henshaw DL. Overhead AC powerlines and rain can alter the electric charge distribution on airborne particles - Implications for aerosol dispersion and lung deposition. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 228:115834. [PMID: 37037314 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Corona ions from high voltage power lines (HVPL) can increase electrostatic charge on airborne pollutant particulates, possibly increasing received dose upon inhalation. To investigate the potential increased risk of childhood leukemia associated with residence near alternating current (AC) HVPL, we measured the particle charge state and atmospheric electricity parameters upwind, downwind and away from HVPL. Although we observed noticeable charge state alteration from background levels, most HVPL do not significantly increase charge magnitude. Particular HVPL types are shown to have most effect, increasing net charge to 15 times that at background. However, the magnitude of charge alteration during rainfall is comparable with the most extreme HVPL measurement. On current evidence, based on the current adult lung model, we suggest that although charge is sometimes enhanced to levels which may alter atmospheric particle dynamics, increased lung deposition is unlikely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Wright
- H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK.
| | - Alison J Buckley
- H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK
| | - James C Matthews
- H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK
| | - Dudley E Shallcross
- Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
| | - Denis L Henshaw
- H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK
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Hunting ER, Matthews J, de Arróyabe Hernáez PF, England SJ, Kourtidis K, Koh K, Nicoll K, Harrison RG, Manser K, Price C, Dragovic S, Cifra M, Odzimek A, Robert D. Challenges in coupling atmospheric electricity with biological systems. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:45-58. [PMID: 32666310 PMCID: PMC7782408 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-020-01960-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The atmosphere is host to a complex electric environment, ranging from a global electric circuit generating fluctuating atmospheric electric fields to local lightning strikes and ions. While research on interactions of organisms with their electrical environment is deeply rooted in the aquatic environment, it has hitherto been confined to interactions with local electrical phenomena and organismal perception of electric fields. However, there is emerging evidence of coupling between large- and small-scale atmospheric electrical phenomena and various biological processes in terrestrial environments that even appear to be tied to continental waters. Here, we synthesize our current understanding of this connectivity, discussing how atmospheric electricity can affect various levels of biological organization across multiple ecosystems. We identify opportunities for research, highlighting its complexity and interdisciplinary nature and draw attention to both conceptual and technical challenges lying ahead of our future understanding of the relationship between atmospheric electricity and the organization and functioning of biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellard R Hunting
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | | | | | - Sam J England
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Konstantinos Kourtidis
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Demokritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
- ISLP Xanthi Branch, ENTA Unit, ATHENA Research and Innovation Center, Xanthi, Greece
| | - Kuang Koh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Keri Nicoll
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | | | | | - Colin Price
- Department of Geophysics. Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Snezana Dragovic
- Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Michal Cifra
- Institute of Photonics and Electronics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Anna Odzimek
- Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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