The Role of Fossil Fuel Combustion Metals in PM2.5 Air Pollution Health Associations

Abstract

In this review, we elucidate the central role played by fossil fuel combustion in the health-related effects that have been associated with inhalation of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5). We especially focus on individual properties and concentrations of metals commonly found in PM air pollution, as well as their sources and their adverse health effects, based on both epidemiologic and toxicological evidence. It is known that transition metals, such as Ni, V, Fe, and Cu, are highly capable of participating in redox reactions that produce oxidative stress. Therefore, particles that are enriched, per unit mass, in these metals, such as those from fossil fuel combustion, can have greater potential to produce health effects than other ambient particulate matter. Moreover, fossil fuel combustion particles also contain varying amounts of sulfur, and the acidic nature of the resulting sulfur compounds in particulate matter (e.g., as ammonium sulfate, ammonium bisulfate, or sulfuric acid) makes transition metals in particles more bioavailable, greatly enhancing the potential of fossil fuel combustion PM2.5 to cause oxidative stress and systemic health effects in the human body. In general, there is a need to further recognize particulate matter air pollution mass as a complex source-driven mixture, in order to more effectively quantify and regulate particle air pollution exposure health risks.

Mortality Attributable to Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter: Insights from the Epidemiologic Evidence for Understudied Locations

“…This allows metals to participate in redox reactions that contribute to oxidative stress and adverse health effects . A recent review by Maciejczyk, Chen, and Thurston further discusses this relationship and concludes that fossil fuel combustion emissions are among the greatest contributors to adverse health effects …”

“…61 A recent review by Maciejczyk, Chen, and Thurston further discusses this relationship and concludes that fossil fuel combustion emissions are among the greatest contributors to adverse health effects. 62 Studies of indoor/household PM 2.5 could provide some additional insights. A large cohort study in rural China by Yu et al, for example, found that household cooking and heating with wood (including charcoal) was more toxic than coal.…”

Precipitation of aqueous transition metals in particulate matter during the dithiothreitol (DTT) oxidative potential assay

“…53 SRM-1648a has been widely used because of its certied composition and the connection it enables across various studies that are not possible with variable PM composition. [54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62] SRM-1648a contains dozens of metals whose concentrations are given in Table S1. † An aqueous stock solution of the urban PM extract was prepared by adding 200 mg of SRM-1648a to 200 mL of 0.1 N HNO 3 , stirred at 200 rpm for 24 hours, and vacuum ltered (Tissue Quartz 2500 qat-up lter).…”

Thermal plasma-aided chemical looping carbon dioxide dissociation for fuel production from aluminium particles

“…According to the Paris agreement and also a report released by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) [3], a large portion of carbon dioxide is sourced from the industrial sector and transportation showing that the current pathway of combustion of fossil fuels will not be sustainable [4]. Combustion of fossil fuels releases air pollutants such as NOx, CO2 [5], and particulate matter (PM2.5) [6], which results in air pollution, environmental damage and intensification of global warming. Therefore, there is a need to further develop energy production systems together with seeking alternative energy resources such as renewable energy to replace fossil fuels and avoid pollutions associated with their combustion.…”