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Copyright Copernicus GmbH 2017

Abstract

Particulate matter (PM), of which a significant fraction is comprised of secondary organic aerosols (SOA), has received considerable attention due to its health implications. In this study, the water-soluble oxidative potential (OP<sup>WS</sup>) of SOA generated from the photooxidation of biogenic and anthropogenic hydrocarbon precursors (isoprene, α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, pentadecane, m-xylene, and naphthalene) under different reaction conditions (<q>RO<sub>2</sub>+HO<sub>2</sub></q> vs. <q>RO<sub>2</sub>+NO</q> dominant, dry vs. humid) was characterized using dithiothreitol (DTT) consumption. The measured intrinsic OP<sup>WS-DTT</sup> values ranged from 9 to 205pmolmin<sup>-1</sup>µg<sup>-1</sup> and were highly dependent on the specific hydrocarbon precursor, with naphthalene and isoprene SOA generating the highest and lowest OP<sup>WS-DTT</sup> values, respectively. Humidity and RO<sub>2</sub> fate affected OP<sup>WS-DTT</sup> in a hydrocarbon-specific manner, with naphthalene SOA exhibiting the most pronounced effects, likely due to the formation of nitroaromatics. Together, these results suggest that precursor identity may be more influential than reaction condition in determining SOA oxidative potential, demonstrating the importance of sources, such as incomplete combustion, to aerosol toxicity. In the context of other PM sources, all SOA systems, with the exception of naphthalene SOA, were less DTT active than ambient sources related to incomplete combustion, including diesel and gasoline combustion as well as biomass burning. Finally, naphthalene SOA was as DTT active as biomass burning aerosol, which was found to be the most DTT-active OA source in a previous ambient study. These results highlight a need to consider SOA contributions (particularly from anthropogenic hydrocarbons) to health effects in the context of hydrocarbon emissions, SOA yields, and other PM sources.

Details

Title
Chemical oxidative potential of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) generated from the photooxidation of biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds
Author
Tuet, Wing Y; Chen, Yunle; Xu, Lu; Fok, Shierly; Gao, Dong; Weber, Rodney J; Ng, Nga L
Pages
839-853
Publication year
2017
Publication date
2017
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
ISSN
16807316
e-ISSN
16807324
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
1859700119
Copyright
Copyright Copernicus GmbH 2017