TY - JOUR
T1 - Discovery of emerging sulfur-containing PAHs in PM2.5
T2 - Contamination profiles and potential health risks
AU - Zhang, Yanhao
AU - Song, Yuanyuan
AU - Chen, Yi Jie
AU - Chen, Yanyan
AU - Lu, Yan
AU - Li, Ruijin
AU - Dong, Chuan
AU - Hu, Di
AU - Cai, Zongwei
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China ( 91843301 and 91543202 ) and National Key Research and Development Program Cooperation on Scientific and Technological Innovation in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan ( 2017YFE0191000 ). We also thank Dr. Simon Wang who helped improve the linguistic presentation of the manuscript.
PY - 2021/8/15
Y1 - 2021/8/15
N2 - We reported the discovery and identification of emerging sulfur-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, namely polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs), in PM2.5 collected from two typical regions of China, Taiyuan and Guangzhou. Until now, there is no research on contamination status, sources and potential health risks of this unexpected group of organic contaminants in PM2.5. High atmospheric concentrations (ng m−3) and significant time-dependent variations were determined in PM2.5 of Taiyuan from 2017 to 2018. Coal combustion/secondary formation and traffic emission/secondary formation were apportioned as possible pollution sources for the PM2.5-bound PASHs in Taiyuan and Guangzhou, respectively. Dithiothreitol and cell viability assays were applied for evaluations of PASH-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell toxicity based on the determined real exposure levels for adults. The results illustrated that PASHs in PM2.5 possibly caused oxidative stress and inhibition of human bronchial epithelial cells in seriously polluted regions such as Taiyuan, suggesting that the pollutant-induced health concerns may need more investigations. This study provides new insights into PM2.5 pollution, and is beneficial for the development of effective contamination control strategies and reduction of risks on public health.
AB - We reported the discovery and identification of emerging sulfur-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, namely polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs), in PM2.5 collected from two typical regions of China, Taiyuan and Guangzhou. Until now, there is no research on contamination status, sources and potential health risks of this unexpected group of organic contaminants in PM2.5. High atmospheric concentrations (ng m−3) and significant time-dependent variations were determined in PM2.5 of Taiyuan from 2017 to 2018. Coal combustion/secondary formation and traffic emission/secondary formation were apportioned as possible pollution sources for the PM2.5-bound PASHs in Taiyuan and Guangzhou, respectively. Dithiothreitol and cell viability assays were applied for evaluations of PASH-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell toxicity based on the determined real exposure levels for adults. The results illustrated that PASHs in PM2.5 possibly caused oxidative stress and inhibition of human bronchial epithelial cells in seriously polluted regions such as Taiyuan, suggesting that the pollutant-induced health concerns may need more investigations. This study provides new insights into PM2.5 pollution, and is beneficial for the development of effective contamination control strategies and reduction of risks on public health.
KW - Contamination profiles
KW - Health risks
KW - PM
KW - Polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles
KW - Toxicity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103969723&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125795
DO - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125795
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 33836324
AN - SCOPUS:85103969723
SN - 0304-3894
VL - 416
JO - Journal of Hazardous Materials
JF - Journal of Hazardous Materials
M1 - 125795
ER -
