Exposure to Ultrafine Particles from Ambient Air and Oxidative Stress–Induced DNA Damage

A B S T R A C TThe planetary boundary layer structure in the coastal areas, and particularly in complex orography regions such as the Mediterranean, is extremely intricate. In this study, we show the evolution of the planetary boundary layer based on in situ airborne measurements and ground-based remote sensing observations carried out during the MORE (Marine Ozone and Radiation Experiment) campaign in June 2010. The campaign was held in a rural coastal Mediterranean region in Southern Italy. The study focuses on the observations made on 17 June. Vertical profiles of meteorological parameters and aerosol size distribution were measured during two flights: in the morning and in the afternoon. Airborne observations were combined with ground-based LIDAR, SODAR, microwave and visible radiometer measurements, allowing a detailed description of the atmospheric vertical structure. The analysis was complemented with data from a regional atmospheric model run with horizontal resolutions of 12, 4 and 1 km, respectively; back-trajectories were calculated at these spatial resolutions. The observations show the simultaneous occurrence of dust transport, descent of mid-tropospheric air and sea breeze circulation on 17 June. Local pollution effects on the aerosol distribution, and a possible event of new particles formation were also observed. A large variability in the thermodynamical structure and aerosol distribution in the flight region, extending by approximately 30 km along the coast, was found. Within this complex, environment-relevant differences in the back-trajectories calculated at different spatial resolutions are found, suggesting that the description of several dynamical processes, and in particular the sea breeze circulation, requires high-resolution meteorological analyses. The study also shows that the integration of different observational techniques is needed to describe these complex conditions; in particular, the availability of flights and their timing with respect to the occurring phenomena are crucial.

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“…In addition, aerosols may affect the human health (Bra¨uner et al, 2007;Brook et al, 2010;Dominici et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the complexity of the boundary layer structure and aerosol vertical distribution in the coastal Mediterranean regions: a case study

Pace¹,

Junkermann

Vitali³

et al. 2015

Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology

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“…They exhibit an extremely large ratio of surface area to mass, and they have a high ability to translocate through the epithelium of terminal bronchioles and alveoli (Daigle et al 2003;Oberdörster et al 2004;Delfino et al 2005;Vinzents et al 2005;Siouta et al 2005;Bräuner et al 2007). Often they also show a chemical composition typical of "combustion emissions."…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intermediate Air Filters for General Ventilation Applications: An Experimental Evaluation of Various Filtration Efficiency Expressions

Shi

Ekberg

Langer

2013

Aerosol Science and Technology

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Neither the European standard nor the US standard for classification of intermediate class filters comprises testing of filter performance with respect to ultrafine particles (UFPs) or particles of the most penetrating size (MPPS). This could turn out to be a major lack in classification standards since UFPs have been pointed out as a serious health hazard. In this study, fractional efficiencies of eight new full-scale bag filters and twenty-three new filter medium samples were determined. The influence of air velocity and aerosol type was investigated, and correlations between efficiencies for UFPs (EF UFPs ), MPPS-sized particles (EF MPPS ) and 0.4 µm-sized particles (EF 0.4µm ) were established. The tested bag filters were challenged by four aerosol types: a neutralized atomized oil aerosol, the same oil aerosol but non-neutralized, a non-neutralized thermally generated oil smoke, and a "natural" indoor aerosol. The tests were carried out at different air velocities through the filter medium, ranging between 0.08 m/s and 0.22 m/s. The relationships that were observed between EF UFPs , EF MPPS, and EF 0.4µm appeared to be linear within the observed filtration efficiency ranges. These relationships were similar regardless of the test aerosol type used, but somewhat different for glass fiber filters than for charged synthetic filters. Generally, EF MPPS was 10-20% lower than EF 0.4µm . The influence of air velocity variations on the size resolved efficiency was determined. The glass fiber filters showed practically the same fractional efficiencies regardless of whether the test aerosol was neutralized or not. However, the charged synthetic filters showed substantially lower efficiencies when tested with the non-neutralized aerosol compared to the case when the aerosol was neutralized.

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“…Although some pathways are better understood for some of these PM components, such as ultrafine particles, which have been shown to be toxic (Öberdorster et al 2005) and connected with oxidative stress-induced DNA damage and mortality (Bräuner et al 2007;Stölzel et al 2007), the components responsible for these health effects still remain unknown (National Academy of Science, 1998). Recent exposure studies that have examined residential continuous PM measurements are limited in terms of number of homes and days of measurements available.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personal, Indoor, and Outdoor Concentrations of Fine and Ultrafine Particles Using Continuous Monitors in Multiple Residences

Wheeler¹,

Wallace²,

Kearney³

et al. 2011

Aerosol Science and Technology

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Concentrations of airborne continuous fine particulate matter or (PM 2.5 ), black carbon (BC), and ultrafine particles (UFP) were continuously measured over 5 days in winter and summer both indoors and outdoors at residences for forty-eight adults in 2005 and forty-seven asthmatic children in 2006. During 2006, personal concentrations of PM 2.5 were also measured continuously. All 4 continuous instruments employed performed well both in laboratory and field conditions. Mean outdoor concentrations of PM 2.5 , BC, and UFP were significantly higher than either indoor or personal concentrations. Air exchange rates were low (median value only 0.2/h), there was widespread use of central forced air and high-quality furnace filters. Outdoor concentrations of all particle-related pollutants showed overnight decreases followed by increases during the morning rush hours. Afternoon concentrations increased for UFP and decreased for BC, with PM 2.5 staying about the same. Between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, indoor UFP and PM 2.5 concentrations exceeded their mean daily values by 160% and 60%, respectively, suggesting that cooking is an extremely important source for these two pollutants. However, BC values did not increase at these hours. The highest indoor-outdoor ratios were observed for UFP suggesting that indoor sources were relatively more important for UFP than for other particle components. BC measurements in Windsor agreed moderately well (R 2 = 41%) with an independent measure of elemental carbon (EC) in Detroit. This large residential air pollution study has provided data making it possible to identify short-term variations and possible sources that can influence the relationships between pollutants and environments.

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Exposure to Ultrafine Particles from Ambient Air and Oxidative Stress–Induced DNA Damage

Cited by 210 publications

References 39 publications

On the complexity of the boundary layer structure and aerosol vertical distribution in the coastal Mediterranean regions: a case study

On the complexity of the boundary layer structure and aerosol vertical distribution in the coastal Mediterranean regions: a case study

Intermediate Air Filters for General Ventilation Applications: An Experimental Evaluation of Various Filtration Efficiency Expressions

Personal, Indoor, and Outdoor Concentrations of Fine and Ultrafine Particles Using Continuous Monitors in Multiple Residences

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