PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Mineral dust aerosols promote the formation of toxic nitropolycyclic aromatic compounds

Scientific Reports, ISSN: 2045-2322, Vol: 6, Issue: 1, Page: 24427
2016
  • 50
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 56
    Captures
  • 1
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    50
  • Captures
    56
  • Mentions
    1
    • References
      1
      • Wikipedia
        1

Article Description

Atmospheric nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs), which have been shown to have adverse health effects such as carcinogenicity, are formed in part through nitration reactions of their parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmosphere. However, little is known about heterogeneous nitration rates of PAHs by gaseous NO 2 on natural mineral substrates, such as desert dust aerosols. Herein by employing kinetic experiments using a flow reactor and surface analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with pyridine adsorption, we demonstrate that the reaction is accelerated on acidic surfaces of mineral dust, particularly on those of clay minerals. In support of this finding, we show that levels of ambient particle-associated NPAHs in Beijing, China, significantly increased during heavy dust storms. These results suggest that mineral dust surface reactions are an unrecognized source of toxic organic chemicals in the atmosphere and that they enhance the toxicity of mineral dust aerosols in urban environments.

Bibliographic Details

Kameda, Takayuki; Azumi, Eri; Fukushima, Aki; Tang, Ning; Matsuki, Atsushi; Kamiya, Yuta; Toriba, Akira; Hayakawa, Kazuichi

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Multidisciplinary

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know