Articles | Volume 3, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-337-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-337-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Reactive oxygen species buildup in photochemically aged iron- and copper-doped secondary organic aerosol proxy
PSI Center for Energy and Environmental Sciences, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
Department of Environmental System Science, Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
now at: Physikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos, World Radiation Center (PMOD/WRC), 7260 Davos, Switzerland
Alexandre Barth
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
Battist Utinger
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
Markus Kalberer
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
Markus Ammann
PSI Center for Energy and Environmental Sciences, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
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Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 9161–9171, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9161-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9161-2023, 2023
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Detailed chemical analysis of organic aerosols is necessary to better understand their effects on climate and health. Aerosol samples are often stored for days to months before analysis. We examined the effects of storage conditions (i.e., time, temperature, and aerosol storage on filters or as solvent extracts) on composition and found significant changes in the concentration of individual compounds, indicating that sample storage can strongly affect the detailed chemical particle composition.
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Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 15725–15753, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-15725-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-15725-2021, 2021
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Thorsten Bartels-Rausch, Xiangrui Kong, Fabrizio Orlando, Luca Artiglia, Astrid Waldner, Thomas Huthwelker, and Markus Ammann
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Chemical reactions in sea salt embedded in coastal polar snow impact the composition and air quality of the atmosphere. Here, we investigate the phase changes of sodium chloride. This is of importance as chemical reactions proceed faster in liquid solutions compared to in solid salt and the precise precipitation temperature of sodium chloride is still under debate. We focus on the upper nanometres of sodium chloride–ice samples because of their role as a reactive interface in the environment.
Steven J. Campbell, Kate Wolfer, Battist Utinger, Joe Westwood, Zhi-Hui Zhang, Nicolas Bukowiecki, Sarah S. Steimer, Tuan V. Vu, Jingsha Xu, Nicholas Straw, Steven Thomson, Atallah Elzein, Yele Sun, Di Liu, Linjie Li, Pingqing Fu, Alastair C. Lewis, Roy M. Harrison, William J. Bloss, Miranda Loh, Mark R. Miller, Zongbo Shi, and Markus Kalberer
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In this study, we quantify PM2.5 oxidative potential (OP), a metric widely suggested as a potential measure of particle toxicity, in Beijing in summer and winter using four acellular assays. We correlate PM2.5 OP with a comprehensive range of atmospheric and particle composition measurements, demonstrating inter-assay differences and seasonal variation of PM2.5 OP. Using multivariate statistical analysis, we highlight specific particle chemical components and sources that influence OP.
Abdelwahid Mellouki, Markus Ammann, R. Anthony Cox, John N. Crowley, Hartmut Herrmann, Michael E. Jenkin, V. Faye McNeill, Jürgen Troe, and Timothy J. Wallington
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 4797–4808, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4797-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4797-2021, 2021
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Volatile organic compounds play an important role in atmospheric chemistry. This article, the eighth in the series, presents kinetic and photochemical data sheets evaluated by the IUPAC Task Group on Atmospheric Chemical Kinetic Data Evaluation. It covers the gas-phase reactions of organic species with four, or more, carbon atoms (≥ C4) including thermal reactions of closed-shell organic species with HO and NO3 radicals and their photolysis. These data are important for atmospheric models.
Jing Dou, Peter A. Alpert, Pablo Corral Arroyo, Beiping Luo, Frederic Schneider, Jacinta Xto, Thomas Huthwelker, Camelia N. Borca, Katja D. Henzler, Jörg Raabe, Benjamin Watts, Hartmut Herrmann, Thomas Peter, Markus Ammann, and Ulrich K. Krieger
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 315–338, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-315-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-315-2021, 2021
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Photochemistry of iron(III) complexes plays an important role in aerosol aging, especially in the lower troposphere. Ensuing radical chemistry leads to decarboxylation, and the production of peroxides, and oxygenated volatile compounds, resulting in particle mass loss due to release of the volatile products to the gas phase. We investigated kinetic transport limitations due to high particle viscosity under low relative humidity conditions. For quantification a numerical model was developed.
Jacinta Edebeli, Jürg C. Trachsel, Sven E. Avak, Markus Ammann, Martin Schneebeli, Anja Eichler, and Thorsten Bartels-Rausch
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 13443–13454, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-13443-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-13443-2020, 2020
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Earth’s snow cover is very dynamic and can change its physical properties within hours, as is well known by skiers. Snow is also a well-known host of chemical reactions – the products of which impact air composition and quality. Here, we present laboratory experiments that show how the dynamics of snow make snow essentially inert with respect to gas-phase ozone with time despite its content of reactive chemicals. Impacts on polar atmospheric chemistry are discussed.
R. Anthony Cox, Markus Ammann, John N. Crowley, Hartmut Herrmann, Michael E. Jenkin, V. Faye McNeill, Abdelwahid Mellouki, Jürgen Troe, and Timothy J. Wallington
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 13497–13519, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-13497-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-13497-2020, 2020
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Criegee intermediates, formed from alkene–ozone reactions, play a potentially important role as tropospheric oxidants. Evaluated kinetic data are provided for reactions governing their formation and removal for use in atmospheric models. These include their formation from reactions of simple and complex alkenes and removal by decomposition and reaction with a number of atmospheric species (e.g. H2O, SO2). An overview of the tropospheric chemistry of Criegee intermediates is also provided.
Sarah S. Steimer, Daniel J. Patton, Tuan V. Vu, Marios Panagi, Paul S. Monks, Roy M. Harrison, Zoë L. Fleming, Zongbo Shi, and Markus Kalberer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 13303–13318, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-13303-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-13303-2020, 2020
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Air pollution is of growing concern due to its negative effect on public health, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates how the chemical composition of particles in Beijing changes under different measurement conditions (pollution levels, season) to get a better understanding of the sources of this form of air pollution.
Jan-David Förster, Christian Gurk, Mark Lamneck, Haijie Tong, Florian Ditas, Sarah S. Steimer, Peter A. Alpert, Markus Ammann, Jörg Raabe, Markus Weigand, Benjamin Watts, Ulrich Pöschl, Meinrat O. Andreae, and Christopher Pöhlker
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 3717–3729, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-3717-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-3717-2020, 2020
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A gas flow system coupled with a microreactor for X-ray microspectroscopy is presented. Its core objective is to mimic the atmospheric processing of aerosol particles under laboratory conditions in a controlled gas-phase environment and allow in situ observations with high spatial and chemical resolution. We here emphasize its analytical capabilities and show initial results from hydration–dehydration experiments and the observation of water ice at low temperature and high relative humidity.
Felipe D. Lopez-Hilfiker, Veronika Pospisilova, Wei Huang, Markus Kalberer, Claudia Mohr, Giulia Stefenelli, Joel A. Thornton, Urs Baltensperger, Andre S. H. Prevot, and Jay G. Slowik
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 4867–4886, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-4867-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-4867-2019, 2019
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We present a novel, field-deployable extractive electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometer (EESI-TOF), which provides real-time, near-molecular measurements of organic aerosol at atmospherically relevant concentrations, addressing a critical gap in existing measurement capabilities. Successful deployments of the EESI-TOF for laboratory measurements, ground-based ambient sampling, and aboard a research aircraft highlight the versatility and potential of the EESI-TOF system.
Pablo Corral Arroyo, Raffael Aellig, Peter A. Alpert, Rainer Volkamer, and Markus Ammann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 10817–10828, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-10817-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-10817-2019, 2019
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Oxidation of bromide and iodide is an important process in the troposphere that leads to gas-phase halogen compounds which impact the oxidation capacity of the atmosphere. Imidazole-2-carboxaldehyde (IC), an aromatic carbonyl, is a product of the multiphase chemistry of glyoxal (an oxidation product of isoprene), a major biogenic volatile organic compound. In this study we demonstrate that IC photochemistry leads to efficient oxidation of bromide and iodide and liberation of halogen compounds.
Zongbo Shi, Tuan Vu, Simone Kotthaus, Roy M. Harrison, Sue Grimmond, Siyao Yue, Tong Zhu, James Lee, Yiqun Han, Matthias Demuzere, Rachel E. Dunmore, Lujie Ren, Di Liu, Yuanlin Wang, Oliver Wild, James Allan, W. Joe Acton, Janet Barlow, Benjamin Barratt, David Beddows, William J. Bloss, Giulia Calzolai, David Carruthers, David C. Carslaw, Queenie Chan, Lia Chatzidiakou, Yang Chen, Leigh Crilley, Hugh Coe, Tie Dai, Ruth Doherty, Fengkui Duan, Pingqing Fu, Baozhu Ge, Maofa Ge, Daobo Guan, Jacqueline F. Hamilton, Kebin He, Mathew Heal, Dwayne Heard, C. Nicholas Hewitt, Michael Hollaway, Min Hu, Dongsheng Ji, Xujiang Jiang, Rod Jones, Markus Kalberer, Frank J. Kelly, Louisa Kramer, Ben Langford, Chun Lin, Alastair C. Lewis, Jie Li, Weijun Li, Huan Liu, Junfeng Liu, Miranda Loh, Keding Lu, Franco Lucarelli, Graham Mann, Gordon McFiggans, Mark R. Miller, Graham Mills, Paul Monk, Eiko Nemitz, Fionna O'Connor, Bin Ouyang, Paul I. Palmer, Carl Percival, Olalekan Popoola, Claire Reeves, Andrew R. Rickard, Longyi Shao, Guangyu Shi, Dominick Spracklen, David Stevenson, Yele Sun, Zhiwei Sun, Shu Tao, Shengrui Tong, Qingqing Wang, Wenhua Wang, Xinming Wang, Xuejun Wang, Zifang Wang, Lianfang Wei, Lisa Whalley, Xuefang Wu, Zhijun Wu, Pinhua Xie, Fumo Yang, Qiang Zhang, Yanli Zhang, Yuanhang Zhang, and Mei Zheng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 7519–7546, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-7519-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-7519-2019, 2019
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APHH-Beijing is a collaborative international research programme to study the sources, processes and health effects of air pollution in Beijing. This introduction to the special issue provides an overview of (i) the APHH-Beijing programme, (ii) the measurement and modelling activities performed as part of it and (iii) the air quality and meteorological conditions during joint intensive field campaigns as a core activity within APHH-Beijing.
Kaspar R. Daellenbach, Ivan Kourtchev, Alexander L. Vogel, Emily A. Bruns, Jianhui Jiang, Tuukka Petäjä, Jean-Luc Jaffrezo, Sebnem Aksoyoglu, Markus Kalberer, Urs Baltensperger, Imad El Haddad, and André S. H. Prévôt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 5973–5991, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-5973-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-5973-2019, 2019
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Here we present the molecular composition of the organic aerosol (OA) at an urban site in Central Europe (Zurich, Switzerland) and compare it to smog chamber wood smoke and ambient biogenic secondary OA (SOA) (Orbitrap analyses). Accordingly, we are able to explain the strong seasonality of the molecular composition by aged wood smoke and biogenic SOA during winter and summer. Our results could also explain the predominance of non-fossil organic carbon at European locations throughout the year.
Guo Li, Yafang Cheng, Uwe Kuhn, Rongjuan Xu, Yudong Yang, Hannah Meusel, Zhibin Wang, Nan Ma, Yusheng Wu, Meng Li, Jonathan Williams, Thorsten Hoffmann, Markus Ammann, Ulrich Pöschl, Min Shao, and Hang Su
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 2209–2232, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2209-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2209-2019, 2019
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VOCs play a key role in atmospheric chemistry. Emission and deposition on soil have been suggested as important sources and sinks of atmospheric trace gases. The exchange characteristics and heterogeneous chemistry of VOCs on soil, however, are not well understood. We used a newly designed differential coated-wall flow tube system to investigate the long-term variability of bidirectional air–soil exchange of 13 VOCs at ambient air conditions of an urban background site in Beijing.
Sarah S. Steimer, Aurélie Delvaux, Steven J. Campbell, Peter J. Gallimore, Peter Grice, Duncan J. Howe, Dominik Pitton, Magda Claeys, Thorsten Hoffmann, and Markus Kalberer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 10973–10983, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10973-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10973-2018, 2018
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Aerosol particles are a major public health concern, but particle properties contributing to their toxicity are not well known. Oxidising components such as peroxy acids might contribute significantly to particle toxicity. However, there is a lack of analytical methods for their characterisation. We synthesized three peroxy acids, developed an analysis method and showed that degradation affects peracid yield, likely leading to underestimation of their concentration in conventional analyses.
Lindsay D. Yee, Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz, Rebecca A. Wernis, Meng Meng, Ventura Rivera, Nathan M. Kreisberg, Susanne V. Hering, Mads S. Bering, Marianne Glasius, Mary Alice Upshur, Ariana Gray Bé, Regan J. Thomson, Franz M. Geiger, John H. Offenberg, Michael Lewandowski, Ivan Kourtchev, Markus Kalberer, Suzane de Sá, Scot T. Martin, M. Lizabeth Alexander, Brett B. Palm, Weiwei Hu, Pedro Campuzano-Jost, Douglas A. Day, Jose L. Jimenez, Yingjun Liu, Karena A. McKinney, Paulo Artaxo, Juarez Viegas, Antonio Manzi, Maria B. Oliveira, Rodrigo de Souza, Luiz A. T. Machado, Karla Longo, and Allen H. Goldstein
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 10433–10457, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10433-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10433-2018, 2018
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Biogenic volatile organic compounds react in the atmosphere to form secondary organic aerosol, yet the chemical pathways remain unclear. We collected filter samples and deployed a semi-volatile thermal desorption aerosol gas chromatograph in the central Amazon. We measured 30 sesquiterpenes and 4 diterpenes and find them to be important for reactive ozone loss. We estimate that sesquiterpene oxidation contributes at least 0.4–5 % (median 1 %) of observed submicron organic aerosol mass.
Guo Li, Hang Su, Uwe Kuhn, Hannah Meusel, Markus Ammann, Min Shao, Ulrich Pöschl, and Yafang Cheng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 2669–2686, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-2669-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-2669-2018, 2018
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Coated-wall flow tube reactors are frequently used to investigate gas uptake and heterogeneous or multiphase reaction kinetics under laminar flow conditions. In previous applications, the effects of coating surface roughness on flow conditions were not well quantified. In this study, a criterion is proposed to eliminate/minimize the potential effects of coating surface roughness on laminar flow in coated-wall flow tube experiments and validate the applications of diffusion correction methods.
Peter J. Gallimore, Chiara Giorio, Brendan M. Mahon, and Markus Kalberer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 14485–14500, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14485-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14485-2017, 2017
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This work helps to better understand the potential climate and health impacts of airborne aerosol particles. We applied a new technique to provide a diagnostic fingerprint of the organic compounds present in aerosols. We followed changes in this fingerprint over time in lab experiments which mimic the conversion of plant emissions into aerosols. Our results compare well with computer simulations of the reactions and we conclude that the technique merits continuing use and development in future.
Hannah Meusel, Yasin Elshorbany, Uwe Kuhn, Thorsten Bartels-Rausch, Kathrin Reinmuth-Selzle, Christopher J. Kampf, Guo Li, Xiaoxiang Wang, Jos Lelieveld, Ulrich Pöschl, Thorsten Hoffmann, Hang Su, Markus Ammann, and Yafang Cheng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 11819–11833, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-11819-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-11819-2017, 2017
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In this study we investigated protein nitration and decomposition by light in the presence of NO2 via flow tube measurements. Nitrated proteins have an enhanced allergenic potential but so far nitration was only studied in dark conditions. Under irradiated conditions we found that proteins predominantly decompose while forming nitrous acid (HONO) an important precursor of the OH radical. Unlike other studies on heterogeneous NO2 conversion we found a stable HONO formation over a long period.
Peter J. Gallimore, Brendan M. Mahon, Francis P. H. Wragg, Stephen J. Fuller, Chiara Giorio, Ivan Kourtchev, and Markus Kalberer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 9853–9868, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-9853-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-9853-2017, 2017
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Limonene is emitted in substantial quantities by plants, and also has indoor sources from
air freshenersand cleaning products. We studied particle formation from the oxidation of limonene and found substantial quantities of oxidising components which are thought to be associated with the negative health effects of particulates. State-of-the-art measurements of the products of limonene–ozone chemistry were also presented.
Thomas Berkemeier, Markus Ammann, Ulrich K. Krieger, Thomas Peter, Peter Spichtinger, Ulrich Pöschl, Manabu Shiraiwa, and Andrew J. Huisman
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 8021–8029, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-8021-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-8021-2017, 2017
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Kinetic process models are efficient tools used to unravel the mechanisms governing chemical and physical transformation in multiphase atmospheric chemistry. However, determination of kinetic parameters such as reaction rate or diffusion coefficients from multiple data sets is often difficult or ambiguous. This study presents a novel optimization algorithm and framework to determine these parameters in an automated fashion and to gain information about parameter uncertainty and uniqueness.
Goran Gržinić, Thorsten Bartels-Rausch, Andreas Türler, and Markus Ammann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 6493–6502, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-6493-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-6493-2017, 2017
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Nitrogen oxides (NOx) largely control the ozone budget in the troposphere globally. Dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) is an important species as a nighttime reservoir for nitrogen oxides. Loss of N2O5 to aerosol particles is therefore important for the budget of NOx and the oxidation capacity. Here we provide direct evidence for its efficient accommodation into aqueous aerosol particles and its fast dissociation, which has not been elucidated as directly in previous studies.
Mingjin Tang, James Keeble, Paul J. Telford, Francis D. Pope, Peter Braesicke, Paul T. Griffiths, N. Luke Abraham, James McGregor, I. Matt Watson, R. Anthony Cox, John A. Pyle, and Markus Kalberer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 15397–15412, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-15397-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-15397-2016, 2016
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We have investigated for the first time the heterogeneous hydrolysis of ClONO2 on TiO2 and SiO2 aerosol particles at room temperature and at different relative humidities (RHs), using an aerosol flow tube. The kinetic data reported in our current and previous studies have been included in the UKCA chemistry–climate model to assess the impact of TiO2 injection on stratospheric chemistry and stratospheric ozone in particular.
Pascale S. J. Lakey, Thomas Berkemeier, Manuel Krapf, Josef Dommen, Sarah S. Steimer, Lisa K. Whalley, Trevor Ingham, Maria T. Baeza-Romero, Ulrich Pöschl, Manabu Shiraiwa, Markus Ammann, and Dwayne E. Heard
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 13035–13047, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-13035-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-13035-2016, 2016
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Chemical oxidation in the atmosphere removes pollutants and greenhouse gases but generates undesirable products such as secondary organic aerosol. Radicals are key intermediates in oxidation, but how they interact with aerosols is still not well understood. Here we use a laser to measure the loss of radicals onto oxidised aerosols generated in a smog chamber. The loss of radicals was controlled by the thickness or viscosity of the aerosols, confirmed by using sugar aerosols of known thickness.
Francis P. H. Wragg, Stephen J. Fuller, Ray Freshwater, David C. Green, Frank J. Kelly, and Markus Kalberer
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 4891–4900, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-4891-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-4891-2016, 2016
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A new portable, online instrument was designed, built and characterised to quantify reactive oxygen species (ROS) in atmospheric aerosols for laboratory and field deployment. ROS are potentially major contributors to the toxicity of particles. Our new instrument allows automated quantification of ROS over days with a detection limit of about 4 nmol [H2O2] equivalents per cubic metre of air, allowing for continuous atmospheric measurements of this important aerosol toxicity parameter.
Laura González Palacios, Pablo Corral Arroyo, Kifle Z. Aregahegn, Sarah S. Steimer, Thorsten Bartels-Rausch, Barbara Nozière, Christian George, Markus Ammann, and Rainer Volkamer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 11823–11836, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11823-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11823-2016, 2016
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The sources of radicals at aerosol surfaces are highly uncertain. Here we investigate the HO2 radical production from the UV irradiation of imidazole-2-carboxaldehyde (IC) in bulk aqueous films containing IC and citric acid, as well as IC in ammonium sulfate aerosols. We find that IC is an efficient photosensitizer that forms HO2 radicals from H-donor chemistry. IC is a proxy species for brown carbon in atmospheric aerosols.
Ivan Kourtchev, Ricardo H. M. Godoi, Sarah Connors, James G. Levine, Alex T. Archibald, Ana F. L. Godoi, Sarah L. Paralovo, Cybelli G. G. Barbosa, Rodrigo A. F. Souza, Antonio O. Manzi, Roger Seco, Steve Sjostedt, Jeong-Hoo Park, Alex Guenther, Saewung Kim, James Smith, Scot T. Martin, and Markus Kalberer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 11899–11913, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11899-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11899-2016, 2016
Guo Li, Hang Su, Xin Li, Uwe Kuhn, Hannah Meusel, Thorsten Hoffmann, Markus Ammann, Ulrich Pöschl, Min Shao, and Yafang Cheng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 10299–10311, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-10299-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-10299-2016, 2016
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Indoor and outdoor formaldehyde (HCHO) are both of considerable concern because of its health effects and its role in atmospheric chemistry. The heterogeneous reactions between gaseous HCHO with soils can pose important impact on both HCHO budget and soil ecosystem. Our results confirms that HCHO uptake by soil is a complex process involving both adsorption/desorption and chemical reactions. Soil and soil-derived airborne particles can either act as a source or a sink for HCHO.
D. F. Zhao, A. Buchholz, B. Kortner, P. Schlag, F. Rubach, H. Fuchs, A. Kiendler-Scharr, R. Tillmann, A. Wahner, Å. K. Watne, M. Hallquist, J. M. Flores, Y. Rudich, K. Kristensen, A. M. K. Hansen, M. Glasius, I. Kourtchev, M. Kalberer, and Th. F. Mentel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 1105–1121, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-1105-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-1105-2016, 2016
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This study investigated the cloud droplet activation behavior and hygroscopic growth of mixed anthropogenic and biogenic SOA (ABSOA) compared to pure biogenic SOA (BSOA) and pure anthropogenic SOA (ASOA). Cloud droplet activation behaviors of different types of SOA were similar. In contrast, the hygroscopicity of ASOA was higher than BSOA and ABSOA. ASOA components enhanced the hygroscopicity of the ABSOA. Yet this enhancement cannot be described by a linear mixing of pure SOA systems.
G. Gržinić, T. Bartels-Rausch, T. Berkemeier, A. Türler, and M. Ammann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 13615–13625, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-13615-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-13615-2015, 2015
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The heterogeneous loss of dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) to citric acid aerosol, a proxy for highly oxygenated secondary organic aerosol, is shown to be substantially lower than to other aqueous organic aerosol proxies investigated previously. This is attributed to the widely changing viscosity within the atmospherically relevant humidity range. It may explain some of the unexpectedly low loss rates of N2O5 to aerosol particles derived from field studies.
S. S. Steimer, U. K. Krieger, Y.-F. Te, D. M. Lienhard, A. J. Huisman, B. P. Luo, M. Ammann, and T. Peter
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 2397–2408, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-2397-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-2397-2015, 2015
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Atmospheric aerosol is often subject to supersaturated or supercooled conditions where bulk measurements are not possible. Here we demonstrate how measurements using single particle electrodynamic levitation combined with light scattering spectroscopy allow the retrieval of thermodynamic data, optical properties and water diffusivity of such metastable particles even when auxiliary bulk data are not available due to lack of sufficient amounts of sample.
M. J. Tang, M. Shiraiwa, U. Pöschl, R. A. Cox, and M. Kalberer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 5585–5598, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-5585-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-5585-2015, 2015
S. S. Steimer, M. Lampimäki, E. Coz, G. Grzinic, and M. Ammann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 10761–10772, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-10761-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-10761-2014, 2014
M. J. Tang, R. A. Cox, and M. Kalberer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 9233–9247, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-9233-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-9233-2014, 2014
M. J. Tang, P. J. Telford, F. D. Pope, L. Rkiouak, N. L. Abraham, A. T. Archibald, P. Braesicke, J. A. Pyle, J. McGregor, I. M. Watson, R. A. Cox, and M. Kalberer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 6035–6048, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-6035-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-6035-2014, 2014
M. Ammann, R. A. Cox, J. N. Crowley, M. E. Jenkin, A. Mellouki, M. J. Rossi, J. Troe, and T. J. Wallington
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 8045–8228, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-8045-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-8045-2013, 2013
T. Bartels-Rausch, S. N. Wren, S. Schreiber, F. Riche, M. Schneebeli, and M. Ammann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 6727–6739, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-6727-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-6727-2013, 2013
T. Berkemeier, A. J. Huisman, M. Ammann, M. Shiraiwa, T. Koop, and U. Pöschl
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 6663–6686, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-6663-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-6663-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Aerosols and Health (AH)
Emission dynamics of reactive oxygen species and oxidative potential in particles from a petrol car and wood stove
A rapid semi-quantitative screening method to assess chemicals present in heated e-liquids and e-cigarette aerosols
Battist Utinger, Alexandre Barth, Andreas Paul, Arya Mukherjee, Steven John Campbell, Christa-Maria Müller, Mika Ihalainen, Pasi Yli-Pirilä, Miika Kortelainen, Zheng Fang, Patrick Martens, Markus Somero, Juho Louhisalmi, Thorsten Hohaus, Hendryk Czech, Olli Sippula, Yinon Rudich, Ralf Zimmermann, and Markus Kalberer
Aerosol Research, 3, 205–218, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-205-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-205-2025, 2025
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The oxidative potential (OP) of air pollution particles might be a metric explaining particle toxicity. This study quantifies the OP of fresh and aged car and wood burning emission particles and explores how the OP changes over time, using novel high-temporal-resolution instruments. We show that emissions from wood burning are more toxic than car exhaust per unit particle mass, especially as they age in the atmosphere. We also calculate emission factors for the OP, which could help to improve air pollution policies.
Natalie Anderson, Paul Pringle, Ryan Mead-Hunter, Benjamin Mullins, Alexander Larcombe, and Sebastien Allard
Aerosol Research, 1, 17–27, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-1-17-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-1-17-2023, 2023
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The accelerated vaping (aerosol generation) method described here mimicked typical vaping on an accelerated time frame and could form the basis of a standardized screening tool to test heated e-liquids and their aerosols for harmful or banned substances. This method could help protect consumers in jurisdictions that have banned certain e-liquid chemicals such as Australia, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
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Short summary
We report a substantial buildup of reactive molecules (due to sunlight) in organic particulate matter, causing adverse health effects. Metals, which occur naturally or are emitted by traffic, can complex with organic materials and initiate photochemical processes. At low humidity, organic particles may become highly viscous, which allows for the accumulation of reactive species. We found that copper acts as an reducing species to remove some of these harmful species from particles.
We report a substantial buildup of reactive molecules (due to sunlight) in organic particulate...
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