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Toxics
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Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution
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Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Pollution and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 22 August 2025 | Viewed by 3513

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jian Gao

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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: air pollution; aerosol; haze; air quality monitoring; atmospheric particulate matter
Dr. Jiaqi Wang

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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: air pollution; haze; nitrogen cycle; atmospheric particulate matter; field observation; gaseous nitrite

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research on atmospheric aerosols has received increasing attention in recent years due to its significant impact on our health and climate. In particular, analyses of the sources and components of aerosols have long been a research hotspot in the field of atmospheric environmental science. This Special Issue will focus on the cutting-edge research achievements relating to the sources and composition of aerosols, especially  research on the sources, chemical components, toxicological characteristics, and health effects of aerosols. For this Special Issue, we welcome original research papers on the following topics: methods for analyzing the source of particulate matter; the chemical composition and mechanisms of formation of particulate matter; the physical and microscopic morphology of particulate matter; composition of aerosol organic compounds; toxicological characteristics of aerosol components; and cutting-edge research achievements relating to the health effects of particulate matter.

Prof. Dr. Jian Gao
Dr. Jiaqi Wang
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. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

  • atmospheric aerosols
  • sources and composition of aerosols
  • toxicological characteristics
  • particulate matter
  • aerosol components

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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31 pages, 8021 KiB  
Article
Impacts of NO2 on Urban Air Quality and Causes of Its High Ambient Levels: Insights from a Relatively Long-Term Data Analysis in a Typical Petrochemical City in the Bohai Bay Region, China
by Xiaoshuai Gao, Cong An, Yongxin Yan, Yuanyuan Ji, Wei Wei, Likun Xue, Rui Gao, Fanyi Shang, Jidong Li, Luyao Tan and Hong Li
Toxics 2025, 13(3), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13030208 - 13 Mar 2025
Viewed by 419
Abstract
The ambient levels of NO2 in urban areas in China in recent years have generally shown a downward trend, but high NO2 concentrations still exist under certain conditions, and the causes for such phenomenon and its impact on air quality remain [...] Read more.
The ambient levels of NO2 in urban areas in China in recent years have generally shown a downward trend, but high NO2 concentrations still exist under certain conditions, and the causes for such phenomenon and its impact on air quality remain unclear. Taking Dongying, a typical petrochemical city in the Bohai Bay of China, as an example, this paper analyzed the influence of NO2 on urban air quality and investigated the causes for the formation of NO2 with high concentrations. The results indicated that higher daily NO2 concentrations (>40 μg/m3) mainly occurred during January-April and September-December each year, and higher hourly NO2 concentrations mainly occurred during the nighttime and morning rush hour in Dongying from 2017 to 2023. With the increase in daily NO2 concentrations, the daily air pollution levels showed a general increasing trend from 2017 to 2023. The occurrence of high NO2 values in Dongying was affected by the combination of unfavorable meteorological conditions, local emissions and regional transports, and localized atmospheric chemical generation. High-pressure and uniform-pressure weather patterns in 2017–2022, along with land–sea breeze circulation in 2022, contribute to high NO2 concentrations in Dongying. Boundary layer heights (BLH) in spring (−0.43) and winter (−0.36), wind direction in summer (0.21), and temperature in autumn (−0.46) are the primary meteorological factors driving NO2-HH (High hourly NO2 values), while BLH (−0.47) is the main cause for NO2-HD (High daily NO2 values). The titration reaction between NO with O3 is the main cause for NO2-HH in spring, summer and autumn, and photochemical reactions of aromatics have a significant influence on NO2-HD. NOx emissions from the thermal power and petrochemical industry in Dongying and air pollution transports from western and southwestern Shandong Province (throughout the year) and from the Bohai Sea (during spring and summer) had serious adverse impact on high NO2 values in 2022. The results of the study could help to provide a scientific basis for the control of NO2 and the continuous improvement of air quality in Dongying and similar petrochemical cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution)
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15 pages, 1579 KiB  
Article
Characteristic Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of PM2.5 and VOCs in Tianjin Based on High-Resolution Online Data
by Yanqi Huangfu, Feng Wang, Qili Dai, Danni Liang, Guoliang Shi and Yinchang Feng
Toxics 2024, 12(9), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12090622 - 23 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1183
Abstract
This study leveraged 2019 online data of particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Tianjin to analyze atmospheric pollution characteristics. PM2.5 was found to be primarily composed of water-soluble ions, with nitrates as the dominant component, while VOCs [...] Read more.
This study leveraged 2019 online data of particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Tianjin to analyze atmospheric pollution characteristics. PM2.5 was found to be primarily composed of water-soluble ions, with nitrates as the dominant component, while VOCs were predominantly alkanes, followed by alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons, with notable concentrations of propane, ethane, ethylene, toluene, and benzene. The receptor model identified six major sources of PM2.5 and seven major sources of VOCs. The secondary source is the main contribution source, while motor vehicles and coal burning are important primary contribution sources in PM2.5. And, industrial processes and natural gas volatilization were considered major contributors for VOCs. A health risk assessment indicated negligible non-carcinogenic risks but potential carcinogenic risks from trace metals As and Cr, and benzene within VOCs, underscoring the necessity for focused public health measures. A risk attribution analysis attributed As and Cr in PM to coal combustion and vehicular emissions. Benzene in VOCs primarily originates from fuel evaporation, and industrial and vehicular emissions. These findings underscore the potential for reducing health risks from PM and VOCs through enhanced regulation of emissions in coal, industry, and transportation. Such strategies are vital for advancing air quality management and safeguarding public health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution)
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Review

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20 pages, 9215 KiB  
Review
Atmospheric Heavy Metal Pollution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment Across Various Type of Cities in China
by Zhichun Cha, Xi Zhang, Kai Zhang, Guanhua Zhou, Jian Gao, Sichu Sun, Yuanguan Gao and Haiyan Liu
Toxics 2025, 13(3), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13030220 - 17 Mar 2025
Viewed by 385
Abstract
This study investigates the spatiotemporal trends and health risks of nine atmospheric heavy metals (Pb, As, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Zn, Cu, Fe) in PM2.5 across 50 Chinse cities, comparing resource-industrial cities (RICs) and general cities (GCs) before (2014–2018) and after (2019–2021) [...] Read more.
This study investigates the spatiotemporal trends and health risks of nine atmospheric heavy metals (Pb, As, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Zn, Cu, Fe) in PM2.5 across 50 Chinse cities, comparing resource-industrial cities (RICs) and general cities (GCs) before (2014–2018) and after (2019–2021) China’s 2018 Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan. Post-2018, concentrations of all metals except Fe declined significantly (33–77%), surpassing PM2.5 reductions (25%). Geospatial analysis revealed elevated heavy metal levels in northern and southern regions in China, aligning with industrial and mining hotspots. While RICs exhibited persistently higher metal concentrations than GCs, the inter-city gap narrowed post-2018, with RICs achieving greater reduction. Pre-2018, the combined non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI < 1) remained below safety thresholds, but the combined carcinogenic risk total (CRT) for children exceeded 10−4, driven primarily by As and Cr(VI). HIs were 1.5–2.0 times higher in RICs than in GCs. Post-2018, the CRT declined by 69.0–71.1%, aligning with reduced heavy metal levels. Despite improvements, CRTs necessitate targeted mitigation for As (contributing 81.1–86.2% to CRT) and Cr(VI) (11.7–14.0%). These findings validate the policy’s effectiveness in curbing industrial and vehicular emissions but underscore the need for metal-specific controls in resource-intensive regions to safeguard child health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution)
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20 pages, 2282 KiB  
Review
Contamination Characterization, Toxicological Properties, and Health Risk Assessment of Bisphenols in Multiple Media: Current Research Status and Future Perspectives
by Fangyun Long, Yanqin Ren, Fang Bi, Zhenhai Wu, Haijie Zhang, Junling Li, Rui Gao, Zhengyang Liu and Hong Li
Toxics 2025, 13(2), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13020109 - 29 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1029
Abstract
Bisphenols (BPs) are ubiquitous environmental endocrine disruptors that cause various human health hazards and pollute water, soil, and the atmosphere to varying degrees. Although various studies have investigated the pollution characteristics and health hazards of BPs in different media, a systematic review of [...] Read more.
Bisphenols (BPs) are ubiquitous environmental endocrine disruptors that cause various human health hazards and pollute water, soil, and the atmosphere to varying degrees. Although various studies have investigated the pollution characteristics and health hazards of BPs in different media, a systematic review of BPs in the broader environmental context is still lacking. This study highlights the pollution characteristics, detection methods, and risk assessment status of BPs by combining relevant studies from both domestic and international sources, and their environmental distribution characteristics are summarized. The results show that BP pollution is a widespread and complex global phenomenon. Bisphenol A (BPA) remains the predominant component of BPs, which can damage the nervous and reproductive systems. At present, high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry are the main detection methods used for BPs. BPs can also damage the reproductive system, leading to germ cell apoptosis and ovarian damage. Future research should focus on expanding the BP testing repertoire, advancing rapid detection techniques, elucidating toxic mechanisms, conducting comprehensive safety assessments, and developing systematic health risk assessment methods. These efforts will provide a scientific foundation for preventing and controlling emerging pollutants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution)
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