Radioactive constituents of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are an under-recognized dimension of urban air pollution, posing emerging challenges for sustainable public health management. In this study, we experimentally demonstrate a mechanistic link between particle radioactivity (PR) and oxidative potential in the urban atmosphere by integrating alpha and beta activity measurements of long-lived radon progeny (210Pb, 210Bi, 210Po) with dithiothreitol (DTT) assays. Using source apportionment, we present the first integrated evidence that biomass burning and industrial activity jointly drive both radiological activity and oxidative potential, highlighting a shared source-specific toxicity profile for PM2.5. Our results establish PR as an emerging, particle-bound radiological indicator of PM2.5 oxidative potential, offering source-specific insights with potential applications in air quality and health-relevant regulations. Recognizing the intrinsic coupling of radiological and chemical reactivities provides a new framework for evaluating synergistic health risks beyond conventional mass-based air quality metrics.
Jieun Park, Taeyeon Kim, Hyejin Shin et al.· Environmental Science and Te...· 0 citations
Ambient particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) is a major public health concern in rapidly urbanizing cities such as Lagos, Nigeria, where emissions from diverse anthropogenic sources contribute to poor air quality. However, source-specific information for Lagos remains limited. PM2.5 sources were apportioned using EPA-PMF applied to a 12-month data set (August 2020–July 2021) of 24-h samples collected every third day at six sites. The top 30% of filters by mass concentration were chemically speciated. Mean PM2.5 concentration was 68 μg/m3. Eleven factors were resolved: Dust (27.86%) the dominant source; Diesel Exhaust (16.98%), Pb-Battery Recycling (12.74%), Sulfate (8.70%), Open Waste Burning (8.30%), 2-Stroke Exhaust (7.25%), and Galvanizing (6.13%). Small contributors were E-Waste Processing (3.58%), Cooking Aerosol (3.34%), Gasoline Exhaust (2.63%), and Secondary Nitrate (2.48%). Integrated statistical modeling and meteorological analyses showed that PM2.5 variation was governed by source-specific meteorological controls. Four factors─Dust, Open Waste Burning, Sulfate, and Secondary Nitrate─were directly influenced by meteorology through transport, scavenging, dispersion, and gas–particle chemistry, respectively. Diesel Exhaust was the largest local source and independent of meteorology. These findings highlight that effective PM2.5 mitigation in Lagos requires source-specific control strategies. Priority actions include reducing fossil-fuel generator use, enforcing industrial emissions controls, and upgrading vehicles.
Adebola A. Odu-Onikosi, P. Hopke, I. Stanimirova et al.· ACS ES&T Air· 1 citation
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