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Atmosphere
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Carbonaceous Aerosols: Sources, Physical and Chemical Characterization, and Toxicity
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Carbonaceous Aerosols: Sources, Physical and Chemical Characterization, and Toxicity

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Aerosols".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2019) | Viewed by 19303

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Kihong Park

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 123 Cheomdangwagiro, Buk-Gu, Gwangju 61005, Korea
Interests: aerosols; fine particles; monitoring; measurements; toxicity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fine and ultrafine particles in the ambient atmosphere are of current interest due to their effects on human health and climate (radiation balance and cloud formation). Carbonaceous aerosols are one of major particle types in fine ambient particles and should be more toxic than inorganic ions. They are directly produced from various combustion sources (diesel and gasoline engine exhaust, biomass burning, coal burning, industrial emissions, domestic heating, cooking, and so on) and formed by gas-to-particle conversion process (e.g., secondary organic aerosols (SOA)). Physical and chemical characterization of carbonaceous aerosols in atmosphere is essential to find their sources and to establish their mitigation strategy. Additionally, understanding effects of carbonaceous aerosols on human health and climate and their aging process in atmosphere are complex tasks, requiring further research. In this Special Issue of Atmosphere, we seek to publish papers dealing with carbonaceous particles in the ambient atmosphere as well as those produced from various combustion sources in the laboratory and field studies, addressing their measurements, physical and chemical properties, aging and transformation, toxicity, and effects on climate and human health.

Prof. Kihong Park
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Carbonaceous aerosols
  • Elemental carbon
  • Organic carbon
  • Combustion aerosols
  • Biomass burning aerosols
  • Physical and chemical properties
  • Aging
  • Effects on climate
  • Toxicity
  • Health effects

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 6623 KiB  
Article
Review of Sunset OC/EC Instrument Measurements During the EPA’s Sunset Carbon Evaluation Project
by Steven Brown, Hilary Minor, Theresa O’Brien, Yousaf Hameed, Brandon Feenstra, Dustin Kuebler, Will Wetherell, Robert Day, Richard Tun, Elizabeth Landis and Joann Rice
Atmosphere 2019, 10(5), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10050287 - 22 May 2019
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4814
Abstract
To evaluate the feasibility of the Sunset semicontinuous organic and elemental carbon (OC/EC) monitor, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsored the deployment of this monitor at Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) sites with OC and EC measurements via quartz fiber filter collection in [...] Read more.
To evaluate the feasibility of the Sunset semicontinuous organic and elemental carbon (OC/EC) monitor, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsored the deployment of this monitor at Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) sites with OC and EC measurements via quartz fiber filter collection in Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; St. Louis, Missouri; Rubidoux, California; and Washington, D.C. Houston, St. Louis, and Washington also had collocated Aethalometer black carbon (BC) measurements. Sunset OC generally compared well with the CSN OC (r2 = 0.73 across five sites); the Sunset/CSN OC ratio was, on average, 1.06, with a range among sites of 0.96 to 1.12. Sunset thermal EC and CSN EC did not compare as well, with an overall r2 of 0.22, in part because 26% of the hourly Sunset EC measurements were below the detection limit. Sunset optical EC had a much better correlation to CSN EC (r2 = 0.67 across all sites), with an average Sunset/CSN ratio of 0.90 (range of 0.7 to 1.08). There was also a high correlation of Sunset optical EC with Aethalometer BC (r2 = 0.77 across all sites), though with a larger bias (average Sunset/Aethalometer ratio of 0.56). When the Sunset instrument was working well, OC and OptEC data were comparable to CSN OC and EC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonaceous Aerosols: Sources, Physical and Chemical Characterization, and Toxicity)
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14 pages, 1727 KiB  
Article
Size-Segregated Chemical Compositions of HULISs in Ambient Aerosols Collected during the Winter Season in Songdo, South Korea
by Kyoung-Soon Jang, A Young Choi, Mira Choi, Hyunju Kang, Tae-Wook Kim and Ki-Tae Park
Atmosphere 2019, 10(4), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10040226 - 25 Apr 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3933
Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to investigate the molecular compositions of humic-like substances (HULISs) in size-resolved ambient aerosols, which were collected using an Anderson-type air sampler (eight size cuts between 0.43 and 11 μm) during the winter season (i.e., the heating [...] Read more.
The primary objective of this study was to investigate the molecular compositions of humic-like substances (HULISs) in size-resolved ambient aerosols, which were collected using an Anderson-type air sampler (eight size cuts between 0.43 and 11 μm) during the winter season (i.e., the heating period of 8–12 January 2018) in Songdo, South Korea. The aerosol samples collected during the pre- (preheating, 27 November–1 December 2017) and post-winter (postheating, 12–16 March 2018) periods were used as controls for the winter season samples. According to the concentrations of the chromophoric organics determined at an ultraviolet (UV) wavelength of 305 nm, most of the HULIS compounds were found to be predominantly enriched in particles less than 2.1 μm regardless of the sampling period, which shows that particulate matter (diameter less than 2.5 μm; PM2.5) aerosols were the dominant carriers of airborne organics. Ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (UHR FT–ICR MS) analysis of the aerosol-carried organic substances revealed that as the aerosol size increased the proportions of CHO and nitrogen-containing CHO (CHON) compounds decreased, while the proportion of sulfur-containing CHO (CHOS) species increased. In particular, the ambient aerosols during the heating period seemed to present more CHO and CHON and less CHOS molecules compared to aerosols collected during the pre- and postheating periods. The aerosols collected during the heating period also exhibited more aromatic nitrogen-containing compounds, which may have originated from primary combustion processes. Overall, the particle size distribution was likely influenced by source origins; smaller particles are likely from local sources, such as traffic and industries, and larger particles (i.e., aged particles) are likely derived from long-range transport generating secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) in the atmosphere. The results of the size-segregated particles can be utilized to understand particle formation mechanisms and shed light on their toxicity to human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonaceous Aerosols: Sources, Physical and Chemical Characterization, and Toxicity)
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14 pages, 2642 KiB  
Article
Size-Segregated Characteristics of Carbonaceous Aerosols during the Monsoon and Non-Monsoon Seasons in Lhasa in the Tibetan Plateau
by Nannan Wei, Chulei Ma, Junwen Liu, Guanghua Wang, Wei Liu, Deqing Zhuoga, Detao Xiao and Jian Yao
Atmosphere 2019, 10(3), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10030157 - 24 Mar 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3506
Abstract
In this paper, we intensively collected atmospheric particulate matter (PM) with different diameters (size ranges: <0.49, 0.49–0.95, 0.95–1.5, 1.5–3.0, 3.0–7.2, and >7.2 μm) in Lhasa during the monsoon and non-monsoon seasons. The results clearly showed that the concentrations of PM, organic carbon (OC), [...] Read more.
In this paper, we intensively collected atmospheric particulate matter (PM) with different diameters (size ranges: <0.49, 0.49–0.95, 0.95–1.5, 1.5–3.0, 3.0–7.2, and >7.2 μm) in Lhasa during the monsoon and non-monsoon seasons. The results clearly showed that the concentrations of PM, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) during the non-monsoon season were much higher than the concentrations during the monsoon season. During the monsoon season, a bimodal size distribution of the OC and WSOC, which were at <0.49 μm and >7.2 μm, respectively, and a unimodal size distribution at <0.49 μm for the EC were observed. However, during the non-monsoon season, there was a trimodal size distribution of the OC and WSOC (<0.49 μm, 1.5–3.0 μm, and >7.2 μm), and a unimodal size distribution of the EC (<0.49 μm). Possible sources of the carbonaceous components were revealed by combining the particle size distribution and the correlation analysis. OC, EC, and WSOC were likely from the photochemical transformation of biogenic and anthropogenic VOC, and the incomplete combustion of biomass burning and fossil fuels at <0.49 μm, whilst they were also likely to be from various types of dust and biogenic aerosols at >7.2 μm. OC and WSOC at 1.5–3.0 μm were likely to have been from the burning of yak dung and photochemical formation. The above results may draw attention in the public and scientific communities to the issues of air quality in the Tibetan Plateau. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonaceous Aerosols: Sources, Physical and Chemical Characterization, and Toxicity)
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12 pages, 6565 KiB  
Article
A Study on Elevated Concentrations of Submicrometer Particles in an Urban Atmosphere
by Hee-Joo Cho, Jia Kang, Dohyeong Kim, Arom Seo, Minhan Park, Hungsoo Joo and Kihong Park
Atmosphere 2018, 9(10), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos9100393 - 10 Oct 2018
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3095
Abstract
Mass concentrations of chemical constituents (organics, nitrate, sulfate, ammonium, chloride, and black carbon (BC)) and the number size distribution of submicrometer particles in the ambient atmosphere were continuously measured in urban Gwangju, Korea, during the Megacity Air Pollution Studies (MAPS)-Seoul campaign. Organics (9.1 [...] Read more.
Mass concentrations of chemical constituents (organics, nitrate, sulfate, ammonium, chloride, and black carbon (BC)) and the number size distribution of submicrometer particles in the ambient atmosphere were continuously measured in urban Gwangju, Korea, during the Megacity Air Pollution Studies (MAPS)-Seoul campaign. Organics (9.1 μg/m3) were the most dominant species, followed by sulfate (4.7 μg/m3), nitrate (3.2 μg/m3), ammonium (2.6 μg/m3), and BC (1.3 μg/m3) in submicrometer particles (particulate matter less than 1 μm (PM1)). The potential source regions of the sulfate were located in the South and East regions of China and South and East regions of Korea, while local sources were responsible for the elevated BC concentration. Diurnal variation showed that concentrations of organics, nitrate, ammonium, chloride, and BC decreased with increasing mixing layer and wind speed (dilution effect), while sulfate and oxidized organics increased possibly due to their strong photochemical production in the afternoon. During the campaign, an elevated mass concentration of PM1 (PM1 event) and number concentration (nanoparticle formation (NPF) event) were observed (one PM1 event and nine NPF events out of 28 days). The PM1 event occurred with Western and Southwestern air masses with increasing sulfate and organics. Long-range transported aerosols and stagnant meteorological conditions favored the elevated mass concentration of submicrometer particles. Most of the NPF events took place between 10:00 and 14:00, and the particle growth rates after the initial nanoparticle formation were 7.2–11.0 nm/h. The times for increased concentration of nanoparticles and their growth were consistent with those for elevated sulfate and oxidized organics in submicrometer particles under strong photochemical activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonaceous Aerosols: Sources, Physical and Chemical Characterization, and Toxicity)
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7 pages, 1366 KiB  
Communication
Emission and Cytotoxicity of Surgical Smoke: Cholesta-3,5-Diene Released from Pyrolysis of Prostate Tissue
by Min-Suk Bae, Jong Kwan Park, Ki-Hyun Kim, Seung-Sik Cho, Kwang-Yul Lee and Zang-Ho Shon
Atmosphere 2018, 9(10), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos9100381 - 30 Sep 2018
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3354
Abstract
Respiratory and lung irritants can be a by-product of the surgical pyrolysis of human tissues. Seven prostate tissues were collected during the transurethral resection of a prostate (TURP). Tissue samples, pyrolyzed in a pyrolysis sampling system, were collected and analyzed for the characterization [...] Read more.
Respiratory and lung irritants can be a by-product of the surgical pyrolysis of human tissues. Seven prostate tissues were collected during the transurethral resection of a prostate (TURP). Tissue samples, pyrolyzed in a pyrolysis sampling system, were collected and analyzed for the characterization of aerosols in the surgical smoke. In the pyrolyzed particulate matter (PM) from the TURP, Cholestra-3,5-diene was identified as the most dominant component along with 9-methylanthracene, hentriacontane, and dotriacontane based on the mass fragment structure determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). As a molecular marker, Cholesta-3,5-diene can be associated with a cytotoxic in primary human oral keratinocytes (HOK). In this research, the presence of Cholestra-3,5-diene is reported for the first time as a by-product of surgical pyrolysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonaceous Aerosols: Sources, Physical and Chemical Characterization, and Toxicity)
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