Determination of arsenic in air particulates and diesel exhaust particulates by spectrophotometry

A method was developed for the determination of trace arsenic by spectrophotometry. The proposed method is rapid, simple, and inexpensive. This method can be used for sensitive determination of trace arsenic in environmental samples and especially in air particulates. The results obtained by this method as a proposed method were compared with those obtained by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry as a popular reported method for the determination of arsenic and an excellent agreement was found between them. The method was also used for determination of arsenic associated with airborne particulate matter and diesel exhaust particulates. The results showed that considerable amount of arsenic are associated with diesel engine particulates. The variation in concentration of arsenic was also investigated. The atmospheric concentration of arsenic was different in different sampling stations was dependent to the traffic density.

Development of analytical methods for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in airborne particulates: A review

In the present work, the different sample collection, pretreatment and analytical methods for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） in airborne particulates is systematacially reviewed, and the applications of these pretreatment and analytical methods for PAHs are compared in detail. Some comments on the future expectation are also presented.

Magnetic properties and heavy metal contents of automobile emission particulates

Measurements of the magnetic properties and total contents of Cu, Cd, Pb and Fe in 30 automobile emission particulate samples indicated the presence of magnetic particles in them. The values of frequency dependent susceptibility （Xfd） showed the absence of superparamagnetic （SP） grains in the samples. The IRM20mT （isothermal remanent magnetization at 20 mT） being linearly proportional to SIRM （saturation isothermal remanent magnetization） （R^2=0.901）, suggested that ferrimagnetic minerals were responsible for the magnetic properties of automobile emission particulates. The average contents of Cu, Cd, Pb and Fe in automobile emission particulates were 95.83, 22.14, 30.58 and 34727.31 mg/kg, respectively. Significant positive correlations exist between the magnetic parameters and the contents ofPb, Cu and Fe. The magnetic parameters of automobile emission particulates reflecting concentration of magnetic particles increased linearly with increase of Pb and Cu content, showed that the magnetic measurement could be used as a preliminary index for detection of Pb and Cu pollution.

Effects of Lianhua Qingwen on Pulmonary Oxidative Lesions Induced by Fine Particulates(PM2.5) in Rats

Objective To investigate the antagonistic effects of different doses of Lianhua Qingwen on pulmonary injury induced by fine particulates PM2.5 in rats. Methods Fine particulates suspended in the environment were collected. Forty-eight healthy adult wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups with 8 rats in each group. Four groups of rats were exposed to PM2.5 by intratracheally dripping suspensions of fine particulates PM2.5(7.5 mg/kg) as dust-exposed model rats. Among them 24 rats in three groups received Lianhua Qingwen treatment(crude drug) at a dose of 2 g/kg, 4 g/kg, 8 g/kg per day for 3 days before dust exposure and were defined as low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose Lianhua Qingwen treatment groups respectively. The other dust-exposed model rats without treatment were assigned as PM2.5 control group. The un-exposed rats were set as saline control group(1.5 ml/kg saline) and blank control group. All rats were killed after 24 hours of the exposure. Lung tissue, serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were collected. The levels of malonaldehyde(MDA), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX) in blood serum and BALF, and superoxide dismutase(SOD) in blood surum were measured using fluorescent quantitation PCR; Expression of NF-E2-related factor 2(NRF-2), heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) and quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) in lung tissues were measured using Western blot. Pathological changes of lung tissues in each group were also examined. Results Pathology revealed thickened alveolar septum, congestion of capillary, interstitial edema and infiltration of lymphocyte and neutrophil surrounding bronchiole in the PM2.5 control group, which weresignificantly relieved in the Lianhua Qingwen treatment groups. Compared to the blank and saline control groups, the PM2.5 control group had significantly higher levels of LDH and MDA(p<0.01) and lower level of GSH-PS(p<0.01) in BALF, significantly higher levels of LDH and MDA(p<0.05) and lower level of GSH-PS(p<0.05) in rat serum. The levels of MDA in blood serum and BALF were significantly lower in each treatment group than that in PM2.5 control group(all P<0.05). In both middle-dose and high-dose treatment group the measurements of LDH in serum and BALF as well as GSH-PX in serum were significant difference from those of PM2.5 control group(all P<0.05). Expressions of NRF-2, HO-1 and NQO1 in lung tissues were significantly different among middle-dose and high-dose treatment group compared with those in PM2.5 control group(all P<0.05). Conclusion Fine particulates PM2.5 in environment may induce pulmonary oxidative lesions in rats. Middle-dose and high-dose Lianhua Qingwen has antagonist effece on the injuries induced by fine particulates.

Variations in Optical Scattering and Backscattering by Organic and Inorganic Particulates in Chinese Lakes of Taihu, Chaohu and Dianchi

This study presents an investigation of the scattering and backscattering properties of the particulates in three Chinese inland lakes(the Taihu Lake, the Chaohu Lake and the Dianchi Lake) based on in situ measurements taken at 119 sites. We modeled the particulate scattering spectra using a wavelength-dependent power-law function, finding that the power-law exponents in the Taihu Lake and the Chaohu Lake differ from those in the Dianchi Lake but are similar to the values in the U.S. coastal waters. In contrast to the open ocean, the backscattering properties in the three lakes can not be determined only from chlorophyll-a concentration. The backscattering ratio spectra exhibit a wavelength dependence feature in all three lakes, generally decreasing with the increasing wavelength. Analysis results of the correlations between the backscattering ratio and the individual water quality parameters clearly show that there are distinctive relations among the three lakes, attributed primarily to different compositions of optically active materials in the three lakes. Analysis of the mass-specific scattering and backscattering coefficients shows that the coefficients at wavelength 532 nm in the Taihu Lake and Chaohu Lake are similar, but they are apparently different from those in the Dianchi Lake. Lastly, Model I multiple linear regressions were adopted to partition the mass-specific cross-sections for scattering and backscattering into organic and inorganic cross-sections to further interpret the scattering and backscattering properties. The relative contribution of organic and inorganic particulates to scattering and backscattering is clearly different among the three lakes. The scattering and backscattering properties of the particulates in the three inland lakes vary significantly based on our collected data. The results indicated that the existing semi-analytical water quality retrieval models of the Taihu Lake can not be applied perfectly to the Chaohu Lake and the Dianchi Lake.

Assessment of Benchmark Dose in BEAS-2B Cells by Evaluating the Cell Relative Viability with Particulates in Motorcycle Exhaust via the Air-liquid Interface Exposure

Objective This study aimed to use an air-liquid interface(ALI)exposure system to simulate the inhalation exposure of motorcycle exhaust particulates(MEPs)and then investigate the benchmark dose(BMD)of MEPs by evaluating cell relative viability(CRV)in lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells.Methods The MEPs dose was characterized by measuring the number concentration(NC),surface area concentration(SAC),and mass concentration(MC).BEAS-2B cells were exposed to MEPs at different concentrations via ALI and CRV was determined using Cell Counting Kit(CCK-8)assay.BMD software was applied to calculate BMD and the lower limit of benchmark dose(BMDL)according to Akaike Information Coefficient(AIC),with P-value based on Hill,Linear,Polynomial,and Power model.Results Our results reveal that BMD of NC and SAC were estimated by the best-fitting Hill model,while MC was estimated by Polynomial model.The BMDL for CRV following ALI exposure to MEPs were as follows:364.2#/cm^(3)for NC;0.662×10^(7)nm^(2)/cm^(3)for SAC;and 0.278μg/m^(3)for MC.Conclusion These results indicate that MEPs exposure via ALI system induces a dose-dependent decrease of CRV and provides the potential exposure threshold of MEPs in a lung cell model.

Suppression effect of fine Al_2O_3 particulates on aging kinetics in a 6061 matrix composite material

Aging behaviors of submicron Al2O3p/6061 composite were investigated by Vickers hardness (HV) measurement and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation. The results showed that there was an idiographic microstructure and aging characteristic in the composite. Addition of fine Al2O3 particulates would strongly restrain the precipitation and reduce the thermal mismatch dislocation density due to the difference of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the matrix and the reinforcemertt.

Interaction of DNA with aromatic hydrocarbons fraction in atmospheric particulates of Xigu District of Lanzhou,China

Voluminously epidemiological studies show that the relationships exist between the air pollution and human health and cancer. Aromatic hydrocarbons （AHs） in air form a large class of organic pollutants, which are widely in environment and many of them are known to be carcinogenic and/or mutagenic and contribute to ambient air pollution. In the past decades, bioassays mainly have been used to evaluate the toxicity of chemical mixtures in atmospheric particulates or aqueous environment. However, it is well known that the covalent complexes formed by carcinogens with DNA may be exert negative results in bioassay. So the main aim of this paper is to develop an evaluation method of toxicity effects of chemical mixtures in atmospheric particulates from chemical standpoint. In this study, the in vitro interaction of the AHs with DNA was investigated by absorption, fluorescence and resonance light scattering （RLS） spectroscopic techniques. The results showed that the AHs in the atmospheric particulates could combine with calf thymus DNA （ctDNA） and herring sperm DNA （hsDNA） without being activated or metabolized by organism, respectively. Intercalation may be present in the mechanism of interaction. The binding constants of the AHs with ctDNA and hsDNA were 2.5x102 and 2.0x103, respectively, which indicated that the interaction of the AHs with hsDNA is stronger than that with ctDNA. In addition, the relationships of dose-effect between the total mole concentration of chemical components and the ability of binding ctDNA and hsDNA were confirmed. This research made it possible to study the toxicity effects of chemical mixtures in atmospheric particulates by chemical method. It is believed that the composition and contents of unknown AHs and the interaction of DNA with AHs in atmospheric particulates of Xigu District of Lanzhou City, China are first reported in the past twenty years.

Self-Organization of Charged Particulates in the Presence of External Force

Evolution of spatial distribution of charged particulates under the action of an external force is investigated. It is found that starting from a homogeneous Maxwellian distribution of particulates, clusters can form and aggregate. The evolution process, as well as the asymptotic number and configuration of the clusters formed, depends strongly on the strength of the external force. The particulates in most of the final clusters are in the crystal state, as can also be deduced from the corresponding velocity and auto-correlation functions.

The Vertical Change of Atmospheric Particulates and Evaluation on Its Influence of the Resident's Floor-Choosing in Beijing

In order to investigate the vertical change of atmospheric particulates and it’s influence of the resident’s floor-choosing in Beijing,we take PM10 as the research object,the 18th building whichis 49.2 m in height of China University of Geosciences as the representative of resident building in Beijing,use the TSP/PM 10/PM2.5-2 particulate-sampling machine to sample PM10 on the south balcony of 1,4,8,12,16th floor respectively in 72 hours from 12 o’clock of January 31st to 12 o’clock of February 2nd,2007, weigh the accurate weight of the fiberglas filter membrane on the Sarlorius electronic balance

Elucidate the impact of particulates on aqueous pollutant sonication

The potential inhibition of particulates on sonication of aqueous pollutants was investigated. Sonodegradation of bromobenzene, bromophenolate ion, and 2,4,5-trichlorobiphenyl were studied in the presence of various types of particulates suspended in water. Particulates of three different diameters (10 nm, 15 μm, and 35 μm) and two types (silica and polyaromatic resin) were investigated over a wide range of concentrations (0.05 g/L to 10 g/L). The results demonstrated that particulates inhibited sonication only when the target compound sorbed on the solid during sonication and could not partition into cavitation bubbles. The inhibition of the sorbed molecules was almost complete, and relatively independent of the particle concentration within certain ranges. However, the complexity of sonochemistry and particulate-solute matrices precludes a simple universal prediction of the inhibition extent.

Simple Synchronous Fluorimetric Method for Determination of Benzo[a] pyrene in Airborne Particulates without a Pre-Separation Procedure

A sensitive analytical method, constant-energy synchronous fluorimetry, has been used to determine benzo[a]pyrene （BaP） selectively in airborne particulates （AP）. A constant-energy difference of 1 400 cm^-1 was selected for obtaining single spectral peak. The method could easily identify BaP in an 18-component polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons（PAHs） mixtures. Calibration plots in methanol solution and in sodium dodecylsulfate （SDS） micellar media show a good linearity （R〉0.999） in the BaP concentration range generally fotund in the environment. The method gives a detection limit of 0.40 nmol/L in SDS micellar medium and 1.34 nmol/L in methanol solution.

Mutagenicity and Induction of Drug-metabolizing Enzyme Activity by LPG Combustion Particulates in Rats

Methylene chloride extracts of particulates from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) combustion appliance were studied by using Ames test, micronucleus test and inducibility of pulmonary and hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in rats. The extracts showed mutagenicity for Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 and its derivatives TA98NR and TA98/1,8-DNP6 with or without S9 mix. The revertants in strains TA98NR and TA98/1,8-DNP6 were less than 40% and 50% of that in strain TA98 without S9 mix, respectively. Positive results were obtained in mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. Intratracheal instillation of the extracts led to increase in pulmonary (but not hepatic) AHH and GST activities in rats. It was seen that AHH was more sensitive than GST to induction by the extracts

Characteristics of total suspended particulates in the atmosphere of Yulong Snow Mountain,southwestern China

The measurement of black carbon （BC） and organic carbon （OC）, dust in total suspended particulates （TSP） was carried out at Yulong Snow Mountain （Mt. Yulong） and Ganhaizi Basin, in the Mt. Yulong region, southwestern China. TSP samples were analyzed using a thermal/optical reflectance carbon analyzer. Results show that average BC and OC concentrations in TSP in the Mt. Yulong region were 1.61±1.15 μg/m3 and 2.96±1.59 μg/m3, respectively. Statistical results demonstrated that there were significant differences in mean BC and OC contents between Ganhaizi Basin and Mt. Yulong at the 0.05 level. Strong correlations between BC and OC indicate their common dominant emission sources and transport processes. Temporal variations ofBC, OC, and optical attenuation （ATN） values were consistent with each other in carbonaceous aerosols. The ratios of OC/BC in monsoon season were significantly higher than in non-monsoon in aerosols from Ganhaizi, which is closely related to the formation of secondary organic carbon （SOC） and extensive motor vehicle emissions from tourism activities. The temporal variations of BC, OC and ATN in carbonaceous aerosols in Ganhaizi and Mt. Yulong were totally different, probably due to elevation difference and diverse tourism activity intensity between the two sites. Time-averaged aerosol optical depth （AOD） at the wavelength of 550 nm in Mt. Yulong was higher than that of the inland of the Tibetan Plateau （TP）. Source apportionment indicated that intensive exhaust emissions from tourism vehicles were the main local sources of atmospheric pollutant in the Mt. Yulong region. Biomass-burning emissions released from South Asia could penetrate into the inland of the TP under the transport of summer monsoon. Further study is needed to assess light absorption and radiative forcing of carbonaceous aerosols, and modeling research in combination with long-term in-situ observations of light-absorbing particulates （LAPs） in the TP is also urgently needed in future work.

Quantification of Phases in Lahore (Pakistan) Airborne Particulates by Matrix-Flushing Method

The mass concentrations of eighteen airborne samples collected from Lahore (Pakistan) are found in the range from 595 to 3027μg/m3with average value of 1130 μg/m3. Most of these values are normal and as reported in the literature for other parts of the world. The major phases identified in the samples by the X-ray powder diffraction technique are Albite (Anorthite), Calcite, Clinochlore (Chlorite), Gypsum, Illite, Quartz and Talc which have also been reported by other researchers to be present in the airborne particulates of other world locations. The average weight percentages of the phases (minerals) in the samples are respectively 15.5, 10.6, 23.7, 2.4, 19.1, 20.2, and 8.5. Some of the elements (e.g., boron, cadmium, lithium, manganese, titanium, and zinc) quantified in two samples determined using a spark-source mass spectrometer appear also to derive their origin from man-made activities. However no compound synthesized in the atmosphere is detected by the X-ray diffraction method.

Trace Metals in Fine and Respirable Ambient Air Particulates on Trinidad’s West Coast

The paper analyzed the concentrations of trace metals in fine and respirable particulates (fine-PM1 and PM2.5;respirable-PM10) to determine baseline concentrations in the ambient air and the factors impacting its distribution such as land use and time of year when levels may be concerning to public health. Measurements of particulates along with meteorological parameters were made at four sites over the heavily populated west coast of Trinidad (10°32'N, 61°18'W) during March ’15-May ’16, representing rural, urban, mixed background and industrial land uses. The study found mean levels of trace metals to be highest at the industrial and urban stations. Public health exceedances (referenced to the Canadian AAQ public health standards (Ontario-MoE, 2012)) were measured for beryllium, cadmium, chromium, iron, manganese and nickel (in PM10). Iron, manganese and nickel, most associated with particulates at the industrial station, were in frequent exceedance. Beryllium—concentrated in coarse PM (PM2.5-10) with only a single measured exceedance at the mixed background station likely poses minimal threat to the health of the nearby population. Cadmium—concentrated in fine PM which peaked once only at the rural station was likely due to an irregular event within a narrow timeframe during the time of sampling. Iron and manganese were frequently above the Canadian public health threshold, but predominated in the coarse PM fraction, suggesting localised sources. Nickel, concentrated in the fine PM fraction, was frequently in exceedance particularly at the industrial station. Cadmium and nickel are genotoxic and should be regulated in order to reduce the burden of toxic carcinogens to which the population can be exposed.

Analysis of Total Suspended Particulates Pollution Along Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway

The paper takes the Shanghai-Nanjing expressway as the research subject and takes the samples of the Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) on both sides of the highway as samples to analyze the pollution and the pattern of pollution distribution. The study shows that the concentration of TSP is very high, even six times of the national limit value.

Lowering Gasifier Tars and Particulates Using Heated Dololmite Catalyst and a Particulate Filter

For this study, a fixed-bed, down-draft gasifier was designed to investigate the effect of a dolomite catalytic bedon tar removal. Pine pellets and wood chips (cypress) were used to produce syngas from the down-draft gasifier. For the gas conditioning, a combination of a heated dolomite (bed temperature at 850?C for catalytic cracking of tars) and a particulate filter (for particulate removal) was used. Investigation of temperature effects on dolomite activity between 650?C and 950 C bed temperatures, showed optimum catalytic efficiency at approximately 850?C. At the optimum conditions, gravimetric tar and particulate concentrations in syngas produced from pine pellets were 0.85 g/Nm3 (±0.16) and 4.75 g/Nm3 (±0.07), respectively before gas conditioning, and 0.09 g/Nm3 (±0.02) and 2.01 g/Nm3 (±0.13), respectively after gas conditioning. Syngas from wood chips contained 1.63 g/Nm3 (±0.45) and 3.84 g/Nm3 (±1.16) of tars and particulates, respectively before gas cleaning and 0.19 g/Nm3 (±0.02) and 2.27 g/Nm3 (±0.27) tars and particulates, respectively after gas conditioning. The combustible portion of the gas constituted carbon monoxide (12% - 14%), hydrogen (11% - 12%), and methane (~2%). These results suggest that syngas produced from gasification of pine pellets and wood chips in a down-draft biomass gasifier can be effectively cleaned using a heated catalyst bed and a particulate filter. However, the benefits of gas conditioning will be offset by the need to maintain a heated catalyst bed for tar cracking.

Visualization of particulates distribution from electrode erosion

Particulates generated from electrode erosion in gas spark gap is inevitable and may initiate selfbreakdown behavior with high risk.Traditionally,this problem is addressed by empirical method qualitatively.To push this old problem forward,this paper conducts laser confocal microscopy measurement of eroded surface and a statistical method is introduced to obtain visualization of particulates distribution from electrode erosion after different shots.This method allows dense particulates to be classified with their heights in z direction and scattered figures of particulates within certain height range are obtained.Results indicate that the higher-than-10 μm particulates start to emerge after 200 discharge shots and particulates number has a waved radial distribution with a 0.5 mm wide deposition zone.Based on these quantitative results,the risk of reignition and field-distortion failure that are triggered by particulates can be assessed.

National Prediction of Ambient Fine Particulates: 2000-2009

A large body of evidence links ambient fine particulates (PM2.5) to chronic disease. Efforts continue to be made to improve large scale estimation of this pollutant for within-urban environments and sparsely monitored areas. Still questions remain about modeling choices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of spatial only models in predicting national monthly exposure estimates of fine particulate matter at different time aggregations during the time period 2000-2009 for the contiguous United States. Additional goals were to evaluate the difference in prediction between federal reference monitors and non-reference monitors, assess regional differences, and compare with traditional methods. Using spatial generalized additive models (GAM), national models for fine particulate matter were developed, incorporating geographical information systems (GIS)-derived covariates and meteorological variables. Results were compared to nearest monitor and inverse distance weighting at different time aggregations and a comparison was made between the Federal Reference Method and all monitors. Cross-validation was used for model evaluation. Using all monitors, the cross-validated R2 was 0.76, 0.81, and 0.82 for monthly, 1 year, and 5-year aggregations, respectively. A small decrease in performance was observed when selecting Federal Reference monitors only (R2 = 0.73, 0.78, and 0.80 respectively). For Inverse distance weighting (IDW), there was a significantly larger decrease in R2 (0.68, 0.71, and 0.73, respectively). The spatial GAM showed the weakest performance for the northwest region. In conclusion, National exposure estimates of fine particulates at different time aggregations can be significantly improved over traditional methods by using spatial GAMs that are relatively easy to produce. Furthermore, these models are comparable in performance to other national prediction models.