Jul 2026· Environmental Science and Technology· Vol 60, pp. 21092 - 21103· 0 citations· 68 references
Medicine
Abstract
Radioactive constituents of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are an under-recognized dimension of urban air pollution, posing emerging challenges for sustainable public health management. In this study, we experimentally demonstrate a mechanistic link between particle radioactivity (PR) and oxidative potential in the urban atmosphere by integrating alpha and beta activity measurements of long-lived radon progeny (210Pb, 210Bi, 210Po) with dithiothreitol (DTT) assays. Using source apportionment, we present the first integrated evidence that biomass burning and industrial activity jointly drive both radiological activity and oxidative potential, highlighting a shared source-specific toxicity profile for PM2.5. Our results establish PR as an emerging, particle-bound radiological indicator of PM2.5 oxidative potential, offering source-specific insights with potential applications in air quality and health-relevant regulations. Recognizing the intrinsic coupling of radiological and chemical reactivities provides a new framework for evaluating synergistic health risks beyond conventional mass-based air quality metrics.
Atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remains a major global health risk, with its associated health burden continuing to rise despite decades of pollution control efforts. Air pollution studies often focus on particle levels and known toxins, missing hidden organics that may drive serious health risks. Here, we...
PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm) is a carrier of toxic elements from diverse sources. This study examined the origin and potential health risks associated with trace elements in PM10 during the dry season in Ghana. A Gent sampler, equipped with a Gast pump and a stacked filter unit, was employed to co...
Francis Attiogbe, G. Safo-Adu, F. Ofosu et al.· Asian Journal of Atmospheric...· 0 citations
Fine particulate (PM2.5) is a potentially toxic entity with diverse sources. This study measured ambient PM2.5 concentrations and identified the major sources at the Winneba Highway Intersection (WHI) and the Apam Fish-smoking Community (AFC). Particulate samples were collected using a Gent sampler fitted with a Gast p...
Francis Attiogbe, G. Safo-Adu, F. Ofosu et al.· Discover Environment· 0 citations
Atmospheric pollution by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) poses a severe threat to public health in industrial regions of Kazakhstan, such as Ust-Kamenogorsk and Pavlodar, where a sharp continental climate exacerbates toxic element accumulation. This study aimed to compare the elemental composition of PM2.5 in Ust-Kamen...
N. Mukhamediyarov, Sayan E. Salmenbayev, Zhanat Baigazinov et al.· Atmosphere· 0 citations
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are well-established air pollutants that have been epidemiologically linked to adverse outcomes. However, their complex chemical reactivity obscures the mechanisms through which specific nitrogenous species are responsible for observed health risks. We hypothesize that NOx-driven nitration proce...
Xing Jiang, Yi-Qun Han, Yan Lin et al.· Environmental Science &...· 0 citations
Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) is a complex atmospheric pollutant originating from multiple natural and anthropogenic sources. This pilot study investigates the chemical composition and potential source characteristics of PM 2.5 in urban Tirana, Albania, during two monitoring campaigns conducted in March–April 2024...
