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Monitoring and Assessment of Nano to Micro-Scale Particles, Health Effects and Air Quality

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Air, Climate Change and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2023) | Viewed by 11267

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Athena Progiou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
AXON Enviro-Group Ltd., 18, Troias Str., 11257 Athens, Greece
Interests: land use planning; atmospheric pollution; greenhouse gases; air quality; air pollution modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Melas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: atmospheric pollution; air quality modeling; boundary-layer meteorology; mesoscale meteorological modeling; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Evangelos Bakeas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemistry Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Zografos, Greece
Interests: environmental analysis; atmospheric pollution; secondary organic aerosol; air pollution exposure and health impacts
Dr. Natalia Liora

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: air pollution; anthropogenic pollutant emissions; natural emissions; air quality modelling; evaluation of modelling systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Atmospheric pollution due to particulate matter of anthropogenic or natural source, seems to be one of the most persistent problems in urban areas around the world as well as in workplaces where particulates from micro to nano scale are handled or produced. These airborne particles are of major environmental concern, as new evidence regarding their harmful impact on human health has emerged. Moreover, recent research results pointed towards the smaller particles as mostly responsible for health hazards like premature mortality, hospital admissions, allergic reactions, lung dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. Nanomaterials (NMs) represent a new type of chemicals of concern, whose properties differ significantly from those of bulk chemicals of the same composition due to their much larger specific surface area and surface activity or much larger deposition rate in the respiratory systems, which may lead to unanticipated effects in human health, like pro-inflammatory effects or development of fibrosis and /or cancer, as well as to significantly alter ecosystems, causing adverse effects on the metabolism of a living being.

The scope of the Special Issue is to serve the goal of a sustainable environment which is one of the most important challenges we are facing nowadays. In this context, the Special Issue aims to tackle the environmental problem connected to high levels of particulates from nano to micro-scale and to improve the understanding of levels, nature and possible adverse effects after exposure in indoor workplaces and urban areas, considering the integration of human biomonitoring studies with measured data.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

  • Data collection, presentation and analysis in urban areas and workplaces
  • Development of new technical solutions for monitoring PM and UFPs.
  • Air quality modelling
  • Analysis and assessment of pollution due to PM from micro to nano scale
  • Source contribution
  • Adverse health effects
  • Exposure and Biomonitoring studies
  • Measures and policies for the reduction of particulate pollution

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Athena Progiou
Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Melas
Prof. Dr. Evangelos Bakeas
Dr. Natalia Liora
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • PM/UFPs emissions and concentrations
  • emission source contribution
  • secondary aerosol
  • NMs/ENMs levels
  • atmospheric pollution
  • atmospheric modelling
  • monitoring
  • exposure
  • adverse health effects

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 5869 KiB  
Article
Insights into the Potential Effects of Micro(nano)plastic-Containing Nanoparticles in the Environment
by Carlos Fito López, Beatriz Díaz Soler, Ana Guillem-Amat and Oscar Andreu Sánchez
Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16319; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316319 - 26 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1269
Abstract
Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) can be generated from a variety of sources, including the breakdown of larger plastic items, the abrasion of synthetic textiles, and the fragmentation of plastic waste. These particles can become airborne and be transported by wind, potentially leading to their presence [...] Read more.
Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) can be generated from a variety of sources, including the breakdown of larger plastic items, the abrasion of synthetic textiles, and the fragmentation of plastic waste. These particles can become airborne and be transported by wind, potentially leading to their presence in the atmosphere. Due to their widespread applications, ZnO particles at the nanometer range have attractive proprieties that make them appropriate for being combined with polymers, especially PET (polyethylene terephthalate), the most commonly used polymer in the packaging sector. Nevertheless, ZnO NPs have a potential ecotoxicity that could be reflected in PET-ZnO composites reaching the environment in the form of micro(nano)plastics. To assess the potential release of PET-ZnO, as well as the ecotoxicity of ZnO NPs, PET-ZnO and weathered composites were analyzed. The ecotoxicity of PET-ZnO was tested in organisms representing different food-chain levels and compared to ZnO NPs’ ecotoxicity. The composite form contained a stable dispersion of around 3.7% of NPs uniformly scattered in the polymeric matrix. ZnO NPs were toxic to Vibrio fischeri and Brachionus calyciflorus. PET-ZnO did not exhibited any toxicity to the organisms studied, while a moderate level of toxicity was observed for the weathered forms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Assessment of Nano to Micro-Scale Particles, Health Effects and Air Quality)
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23 pages, 11111 KiB  
Article
Exposure Assessment and Risk Characterization of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials at Different Production Scales
by Carlos Fito López, Inmaculada Colmenar González, Oscar Andreu Sánchez, Verónica Vela and Maidá Domat Rodriguez
Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12544; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612544 - 18 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1325
Abstract
Data on the potential impact on human health of engineered nanomaterials are still scarce, with an evident lack of knowledge on the exposure levels at all stages of the life cycle. By prioritizing the responsible handling of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), companies can promote [...] Read more.
Data on the potential impact on human health of engineered nanomaterials are still scarce, with an evident lack of knowledge on the exposure levels at all stages of the life cycle. By prioritizing the responsible handling of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), companies can promote sustainability by minimizing the risks of occupational exposure, protecting employee well-being, reducing liability, and avoiding costly environmental remediation efforts. This research aims to evaluate the risk in real scenarios involving the use of carbon-based nanomaterials in research laboratories, pilot-scale facilities, and industrial settings. Several online and offline instruments have been employed to characterize the particulate matter present in these environments, including particles in the nanometer range and relevant fractions for risk assessment purposes. Samples collected on polycarbonate filters were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Exposure estimation has been performed by applying a decision based on tier 2 from the nanoGEM methodology, with the weighing and transferring of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) in a pilot plant being the most liberating processes, which are the activities with the highest risk of exposure. In addition, high levels of particle concentration, with peaks up to 1.7 × 105 and 4.7 × 105 part/cm3, have been found for the dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and incorporation of carbonaceous nanoparticles into resins, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Assessment of Nano to Micro-Scale Particles, Health Effects and Air Quality)
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22 pages, 3645 KiB  
Article
Measures and Policies for Reducing PM Exceedances through the Use of Air Quality Modeling: The Case of Thessaloniki, Greece
by Athena Progiou, Natalia Liora, Ioannis Sebos, Christina Chatzimichail and Dimitrios Melas
Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 930; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15020930 - 4 Jan 2023
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2189
Abstract
The main aim of this study is the identification of the most appropriate measures and policies to combat particulate air pollution in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece through a methodology including the calculation of emissions by sector and the application of an air [...] Read more.
The main aim of this study is the identification of the most appropriate measures and policies to combat particulate air pollution in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece through a methodology including the calculation of emissions by sector and the application of an air quality modeling system. The identification of the current air quality situation showed that the exceedances of the mean PM10 daily levels occur during the cold winter months with residential heating being the major contributor representing a 73% share of total PM10 emissions. Moreover, the effect of the biomass consumption for heating purposes on PM10 concentrations has been verified and quantified by implementing a regression model identifying that a PM10 emissions reduction by 45% would result in the elimination of the exceedances of the mean PM10 daily values. Based on the above, a set of cost-effective measures and policies were defined and their impact on PM10 emissions was estimated. Finally, the air quality modeling system was applied for the mitigation scenarios selected, leading to a significant reduction of 67% in the number of exceedances observed and ensuring compliance with the limit of 35 exceedances of the daily value limit per year pursuant to European Legislation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Assessment of Nano to Micro-Scale Particles, Health Effects and Air Quality)
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17 pages, 1725 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Street Tree Height on PM2.5 Concentration in Street Canyons: A Simulation Study
by Junyou Liu, Bohong Zheng, Yanfen Xiang and Jia Fan
Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12378; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912378 - 29 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2183
Abstract
With the rapid development of cities and the rapid increase in automobile ownership, traffic has become one of the main sources of PM2.5 pollution, which can be reduced by road greening through sedimentation, blocking, adhesion, and absorption. Using the method of combining field [...] Read more.
With the rapid development of cities and the rapid increase in automobile ownership, traffic has become one of the main sources of PM2.5 pollution, which can be reduced by road greening through sedimentation, blocking, adhesion, and absorption. Using the method of combining field monitoring and ENVI-met simulation, the influence of the tree height on the PM2.5 concentration on both sides of the city streets was discussed. The influence of tree height on PM2.5 under five conditions was analyzed, including 10 m tall trees (i), 15 m tall trees (ii), alternating distribution of 15 and 10 m tall trees (iii), 5 m tall trees (iv), no trees on either side of the road (v). The results show that: Roadside trees can increase the concentration of PM2.5 in the narrow space of street canyons. However, without roadside trees, PM2.5 from traffic sources is not reduced in time, it is more easily spread to the distance. When the height of the roadside trees is 5 m and their crown widths are smaller than those of other trees, there is a relatively wide space between them. Compared with the higher roadside tree models with larger crown widths, the concentration of PM2.5 on the roadway and the downwind sidewalk is relatively low. In the three models (i–iii) with tree height above or equal to 10 m, the PM2.5 concentration around the trees do not show regular change with the change in tree height. Due to the tree height of 10 and 15 m, the crown width is large enough, and the alternate distribution of tree height of 15 and 10 m fails to make the PM2.5 concentration in the models lower than the models with tree height of 15 m or 10 m. The reasonable height of roadside trees in street canyons helps improve the wind circulation to promote the diffusion of PM2.5 pollution. There is no optimal height of roadside trees for PM2.5 pollution in street canyons, thus it is necessary to select the height reasonably according to the specific situation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Assessment of Nano to Micro-Scale Particles, Health Effects and Air Quality)
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Review

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44 pages, 7299 KiB  
Review
Analytical Methods for Physicochemical Characterization and Toxicity Assessment of Atmospheric Particulate Matter: A Review
by Akmaral Agibayeva, Mert Guney, Ferhat Karaca, Aiganym Kumisbek, Jong Ryeol Kim and Egemen Avcu
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13481; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013481 - 19 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3571
Abstract
Particle-bound pollutants are a critical risk factor for human respiratory/cardiovascular conditions. A comprehensive analysis of the physicochemical characteristics of PM is often challenging since it requires combining different practical methods with a good understanding the of characterization outputs. The present review aims to [...] Read more.
Particle-bound pollutants are a critical risk factor for human respiratory/cardiovascular conditions. A comprehensive analysis of the physicochemical characteristics of PM is often challenging since it requires combining different practical methods with a good understanding the of characterization outputs. The present review aims to (1) provide a comprehensive assessment of the underlying mechanisms of PM cytotoxicity and the related biological response; (2) evaluate the selected methods for PM characterization in terms of outputs, technical aspects, challenges, and sample preparation; (3) present effective means of studying PM physicochemical toxicity and composition; and (4) provide recommendations for enhancing the human health risk assessment. The cellular response to potentially toxic elements in PM is complex to understand as exposure includes systemic inflammation, increased ROS accumulation, and oxidative stress. A comprehensive toxicity assessment requires blending morphological features and chemical composition data. For the morphological/chemical characterization, we recommend first using SEM-EDS as a practical method for the single-particle analysis. Then, the bulk chemistry of PM can be further studied using either a dry analysis (e.g., XRF) or wet analysis techniques (e.g., ICP and IC). Finally, when used on a need basis, the reviewed complementary laboratory methods may further add valuable information to the characterization. The accuracy of the human health risk assessment may be improved using bioaccessible/soluble fractions of the contaminants instead of the total contaminant concentration. Having an integrated understanding of the covered analytical methods along with the health risk assessment guidelines would contribute to research on atmospheric chemistry, molecular biology, and public health while helping researchers better characterize human exposure to PM and the associated adverse health effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Assessment of Nano to Micro-Scale Particles, Health Effects and Air Quality)
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