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Toxics
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Toxic Effects of Manufactured Nanoparticles and Atmospheric Particulate Matter
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Toxic Effects of Manufactured Nanoparticles and Atmospheric Particulate Matter

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Pollution and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2023) | Viewed by 8497

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yun Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (NUIST), Nanjing 210044, China
Interests: nanoparticles; atmospheric particulate matter; heavy metals; ecotoxicity; human health; mixture toxicity
Prof. Dr. Xinlei Ge

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (NUIST), Nanjing 210044, China
Interests: air pollution; atmospheric chemistry; atmospheric particulate matter; human health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Atmospheric particulate matter is a major environmental pollutant threatening human health. The wide application of nanoparticles over the last few decades has raised serious concerns about their potential environmental and health risks. Both atmospheric particulate matter and nanoparticles vary greatly in chemical composition, particle structure, size and property, which complicate their exposure and toxicity. There is a crucial need to further understand, simulate, evaluate and reduce the toxicity of these particles. This Special Issue on “Toxic Effects of Manufactured Nanoparticles and Atmospheric Particulate Matter” will aim at highlighting the latest advances in particle toxicity in a timely manner.  Authors are invited to submit original research papers, reviews, and short communications.

Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Potential exposure pathways and risks of nanoparticles and/or atmospheric particulate matter.
  2. Toxic responses and mechanisms of nanoparticles and/or atmospheric particulate matter.
  3. Novel methods, models or assays for particle toxicity evaluation.
  4. Methods and mechanisms for reducing particle toxicity.
  5. Particle interactions with other contaminants.

Prof. Dr. Yun Wu
Prof. Dr. Xinlei Ge
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanoparticles
  • atmospheric particulate matter
  • toxicity
  • health risks
  • exposure
  • risk assessment

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 5359 KiB  
Article
Significance of Volatile Organic Compounds to Secondary Pollution Formation and Health Risks Observed during a Summer Campaign in an Industrial Urban Area
by Li Cao, Qihui Men, Zihao Zhang, Hao Yue, Shijie Cui, Xiangpeng Huang, Yunjiang Zhang, Junfeng Wang, Mindong Chen and Haiwei Li
Toxics 2024, 12(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12010034 - 1 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1361
Abstract
The chemical complexity and toxicity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are primarily encountered through intensive anthropogenic emissions in suburban areas. Here, pollution characteristics, impacts on secondary pollution formation, and health risks were investigated through continuous in-field measurements from 1–30 June 2020 in suburban [...] Read more.
The chemical complexity and toxicity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are primarily encountered through intensive anthropogenic emissions in suburban areas. Here, pollution characteristics, impacts on secondary pollution formation, and health risks were investigated through continuous in-field measurements from 1–30 June 2020 in suburban Nanjing, adjacent to national petrochemical industrial parks in China. On average, the total VOCs concentration was 34.47 ± 16.08 ppb, which was comprised mostly by alkanes (41.8%) and halogenated hydrocarbons (29.4%). In contrast, aromatics (17.4%) dominated the ozone formation potential (OFP) and secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAFP) with 59.6% and 58.3%, respectively. Approximately 63.5% of VOCs were emitted from the petrochemical industry and from solvent usage based on source apportionment results, followed by biogenic emissions of 22.3% and vehicle emissions of 14.2%. Of the observed 46 VOC species, hexachlorobutadiene, dibromoethane, butadiene, tetrachloroethane, and vinyl chloride contributed as high as 98.8% of total carcinogenic risk, a large fraction of which was ascribed to the high-level emissions during ozone pollution episodes and nighttime. Therefore, the mitigation of VOC emissions from petrochemical industries would be an effective way to reduce secondary pollution and potential health risks in conurbation areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxic Effects of Manufactured Nanoparticles and Atmospheric Particulate Matter)
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14 pages, 6336 KiB  
Article
Characterization and Polydispersity of Volcanic Ash Nanoparticles in Synthetic Lung Fluid
by Benedetto Schiavo, Ofelia Morton-Bermea, Diana Meza-Figueroa, Mónica Acosta-Elías, Belem González-Grijalva, Maria Aurora Armienta-Hernández, Claudio Inguaggiato and Daisy Valera-Fernández
Toxics 2023, 11(7), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11070624 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1481
Abstract
The inhalation of natural nanoparticles (NPs) emitted from volcanic activity may be a risk to human health. However, the literature rarely reports the fate and response of NPs once in contact with lung fluids. In this work, we studied the particle size distribution [...] Read more.
The inhalation of natural nanoparticles (NPs) emitted from volcanic activity may be a risk to human health. However, the literature rarely reports the fate and response of NPs once in contact with lung fluids. In this work, we studied the particle size distribution of ashfall from Popocatépetl volcano, Mexico. The collected ashes (n = 5) were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to obtain the elemental composition and morphology, and to determine the size of the ash particles using ParticleMetric software (PMS). The PMS reported most of the ash to have submicrometric size (<1 μm) and an average equivalent circle of 2.72 μm. Moreover, to our knowledge, this study investigated for the first time the behavior of ash NPs at different times (0 to 24 h) while in contact with in vitro lung fluid, Gamble Solution (GS) and Artificial Lysosomal Fluid (ALF) using dynamic light scattering (DLS). We found a large variability in the hydrodynamic diameter, with values less than 1 nm and greater than 5 μm. Furthermore, aggregation and disaggregation processes were recognized in GS and ALF, respectively. The results of this study increase the knowledge of the interaction between NPs and lung fluids, particularly within the alveolar macrophage region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxic Effects of Manufactured Nanoparticles and Atmospheric Particulate Matter)
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14 pages, 3673 KiB  
Article
Machine Learning Explains Long-Term Trend and Health Risk of Air Pollution during 2015–2022 in a Coastal City in Eastern China
by Zihe Qian, Qingxiao Meng, Kehong Chen, Zihang Zhang, Hongwei Liang, Han Yang, Xiaolei Huang, Weibin Zhong, Yichen Zhang, Ziqian Wei, Binqian Zhang, Kexin Zhang, Meijuan Chen, Yunjiang Zhang and Xinlei Ge
Toxics 2023, 11(6), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11060481 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1518
Abstract
Exposure to air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks for human health. Air pollution level is significantly driven by anthropogenic emissions and meteorological conditions. To protect people from air pollutants, China has implemented clean air actions to reduce anthropogenic emissions, which [...] Read more.
Exposure to air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks for human health. Air pollution level is significantly driven by anthropogenic emissions and meteorological conditions. To protect people from air pollutants, China has implemented clean air actions to reduce anthropogenic emissions, which has led to rapid improvement in air quality over China. Here, we evaluated the impact of anthropogenic emissions and meteorological conditions on trends in air pollutants in a coastal city (Lianyungang) in eastern China from 2015 to 2022 based on a random forest model. The annual mean concentration of observed air pollutants, including fine particles, inhalable particles, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide, presented significant decreasing trends during 2015–2022, with dominant contributions (55–75%) by anthropogenic emission reduction. An increasing trend in ozone was observed with an important contribution (28%) by anthropogenic emissions. The impact of meteorological conditions on air pollution showed significant seasonality. For instance, the negative impact on aerosol pollution occurred during cold months, while the positive impact was in warm months. Health-risk-based air quality decreased by approximately 40% in 8 years, for which anthropogenic emission made a major contribution (93%). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxic Effects of Manufactured Nanoparticles and Atmospheric Particulate Matter)
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17 pages, 3021 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition and Transgenerational Effects on Caenorhabditis elegans of Seasonal Fine Particulate Matter
by Rongying Yang, Pengxiang Ge, Xiaoming Liu, Wankang Chen, Zhansheng Yan and Mindong Chen
Toxics 2023, 11(2), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11020116 - 24 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1766
Abstract
While numerous studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of fine particulate matter (PM) on human health, little attention has been paid to its impact on offspring health. The multigenerational toxic effects on Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were investigated by acute exposure. [...] Read more.
While numerous studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of fine particulate matter (PM) on human health, little attention has been paid to its impact on offspring health. The multigenerational toxic effects on Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were investigated by acute exposure. PM2.5 and PM1 samples were collected and analysed for their chemical composition (inorganic ions, metals, OM, PAHs) in different seasons from April 2019 to January 2020 in Lin’an, China. A higher proportion of organic carbon components (34.3%, 35.9%) and PAHs (0.0144%, 0.0200%) occupied the PM2.5 and PM1 samples in winter, respectively. PM1 in summer was enriched with some metal elements (2.7%). Exposure to fine PM caused developmental slowing and increased germ cell apoptosis, as well as inducing intestinal autofluorescence and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. PM1 caused stronger toxic effects than PM2.5. The correlation between PM component and F0 generation toxicity index was analysed. Body length, germ cell apoptosis and intestinal autofluorescence were all highly correlated with Cu, As, Pb, OC and PAHs, most strongly with PAHs. The highest correlation coefficients between ROS and each component are SO42− (R = 0.743), Cd (R = 0.816) and OC (R = 0.716). The results imply that OC, PAHs and some transition metals play an important role in the toxicity of fine PM to C. elegans, where the organic fraction may be the key toxicogenic component. The multigenerational studies show that PM toxicity can be passed from parent to offspring, and gradually returns to control levels in the F3–F4 generation with germ cell apoptosis being restored in the F4 generation. Therefore, the adverse effects of PM on reproductive damage are more profound. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxic Effects of Manufactured Nanoparticles and Atmospheric Particulate Matter)
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19 pages, 4963 KiB  
Article
Chemical Characteristics and Source-Specific Health Risks of the Volatile Organic Compounds in Urban Nanjing, China
by Jingyun Wang, Hao Yue, Shijie Cui, Yunjiang Zhang, Haiwei Li, Junfeng Wang and Xinlei Ge
Toxics 2022, 10(12), 722; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10120722 - 24 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1772
Abstract
This work comprehensively investigated the constituents, sources, and associated health risks of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) sampled during the autumn of 2020 in urban Nanjing, a megacity in the densely populated Yangtze River Delta region in China. The total VOC (TVOC, sum [...] Read more.
This work comprehensively investigated the constituents, sources, and associated health risks of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) sampled during the autumn of 2020 in urban Nanjing, a megacity in the densely populated Yangtze River Delta region in China. The total VOC (TVOC, sum of 108 species) concentration was determined to be 29.04 ± 14.89 ppb, and it was consisted of alkanes (36.9%), oxygenated VOCs (19.9%), halogens (19.1%), aromatics (9.9%), alkenes (8.9%), alkynes (4.9%), and others (0.4%). The mean TVOC/NOx (ppbC/ppbv) ratio was only 3.32, indicating the ozone control is overall VOC-limited. In terms of the ozone formation potential (OFP), however, the largest contributor became aromatics (41.9%), followed by alkenes (27.6%), and alkanes (16.9%); aromatics were also the dominant species in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, indicative of the critical importance of aromatics reduction to the coordinated control of ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Mass ratios of ethylbenzene/xylene (E/X), isopentane/n-−pentane (I/N), and toluene/benzene (T/B) ratios all pointed to the significant influence of traffic on VOCs. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) revealed five sources showing that traffic was the largest contributor (29.2%), particularly in the morning. A biogenic source, however, became the most important source in the afternoon (31.3%). The calculated noncarcinogenic risk (NCR) and lifetime carcinogenic risk (LCR) of the VOCs were low, but four species, acrolein, benzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, and 1,2-dibromoethane, were found to possess risks exceeding the thresholds. Furthermore, we conducted a multilinear regression to apportion the health risks to the PMF-resolved sources. Results show that the biogenic source instead of traffic became the most prominent contributor to the TVOC NCR and its contribution in the afternoon even outpaced the sum of all other sources. In summary, our analysis reveals the priority of controls of aromatics and traffic/industrial emissions to the efficient coreduction of O3 and PM2.5; our analysis also underscores that biogenic emissions should be paid special attention if considering the direct health risks of VOCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxic Effects of Manufactured Nanoparticles and Atmospheric Particulate Matter)
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