Formation and growth rates of ultrafine atmospheric particles: a review of observations
TL;DR: In this paper, the formation rate of 3-nm particles is often in the range 0.01-10 cm −3 s −1 in the boundary layer in urban areas and in coastal areas and industrial plumes.
About: This article is published in Journal of Aerosol Science.The article was published on 2004-03-01. It has received 2028 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Nucleation & Particle.
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TL;DR: Results of older bio-kinetic studies with NSPs and newer epidemiologic and toxicologic studies with airborne ultrafine particles can be viewed as the basis for the expanding field of nanotoxicology, which can be defined as safety evaluation of engineered nanostructures and nanodevices.
Abstract: Although humans have been exposed to airborne nanosized particles (NSPs; < 100 nm) throughout their evolutionary stages, such exposure has increased dramatically over the last century due to anthropogenic sources. The rapidly developing field of nanotechnology is likely to become yet another source through inhalation, ingestion, skin uptake, and injection of engineered nanomaterials. Information about safety and potential hazards is urgently needed. Results of older bio-kinetic studies with NSPs and newer epidemiologic and toxicologic studies with airborne ultrafine particles can be viewed as the basis for the expanding field of nanotoxicology, which can be defined as safety evaluation of engineered nanostructures and nanodevices. Collectively, some emerging concepts of nanotoxicology can be identified from the results of these studies. When inhaled, specific sizes of NSPs are efficiently deposited by diffusional mechanisms in all regions of the respiratory tract. The small size facilitates uptake into cells and transcytosis across epithelial and endothelial cells into the blood and lymph circulation to reach potentially sensitive target sites such as bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and heart. Access to the central nervous system and ganglia via translocation along axons and dendrites of neurons has also been observed. NSPs penetrating the skin distribute via uptake into lymphatic channels. Endocytosis and biokinetics are largely dependent on NSP surface chemistry (coating) and in vivo surface modifications. The greater surface area per mass compared with larger-sized particles of the same chemistry renders NSPs more active biologically. This activity includes a potential for inflammatory and pro-oxidant, but also antioxidant, activity, which can explain early findings showing mixed results in terms of toxicity of NSPs to environmentally relevant species. Evidence of mitochondrial distribution and oxidative stress response after NSP endocytosis points to a need for basic research on their interactions with subcellular structures. Additional considerations for assessing safety of engineered NSPs include careful selections of appropriate and relevant doses/concentrations, the likelihood of increased effects in a compromised organism, and also the benefits of possible desirable effects. An interdisciplinary team approach (e.g., toxicology, materials science, medicine, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, to name a few) is mandatory for nanotoxicology research to arrive at an appropriate risk assessment.
7,092 citations
Cites background from "Formation and growth rates of ultra..."
...Results from three studies using intratracheal dosing of carbon nanotubes in rodents indicate significant acute inflammatory pulmonary effects that either subsided in rats (Warheit et al. 2004) or were more persistent in mice (Lam et al. 2004; Shvedova et al. 2004b)....
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...Administered doses were very high, ranging from 1 to 5 mg/kg in rats; in mice doses ranged from 3.3 to 16.6 mg/kg (Lam et al. 2004) or somewhat lower, from 0.3 to 1.3 mg/kg (Shvedova et al. 2004a)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed existing knowledge with regard to organic aerosol (OA) of importance for global climate modelling and defined critical gaps needed to reduce the involved uncertainties, and synthesized the information to provide a continuous analysis of the flow from the emitted material to the atmosphere up to the point of the climate impact of the produced organic aerosols.
Abstract: The present paper reviews existing knowledge with regard to Organic Aerosol (OA) of importance for global climate modelling and defines critical gaps needed to reduce the involved uncertainties. All pieces required for the representation of OA in a global climate model are sketched out with special attention to Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA): The emission estimates of primary carbonaceous particles and SOA precursor gases are summarized. The up-to-date understanding of the chemical formation and transformation of condensable organic material is outlined. Knowledge on the hygroscopicity of OA and measurements of optical properties of the organic aerosol constituents are summarized. The mechanisms of interactions of OA with clouds and dry and wet removal processes parameterisations in global models are outlined. This information is synthesized to provide a continuous analysis of the flow from the emitted material to the atmosphere up to the point of the climate impact of the produced organic aerosol. The sources of uncertainties at each step of this process are highlighted as areas that require further studies.
2,863 citations
Cites background from "Formation and growth rates of ultra..."
...Many studies have reported rather frequent nucleation events in the boundary layer and free troposphere i a variety of environments (see Kulmala et al., 2004a for a review of field observations)....
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...Kulmala et al. (2004a) in their review of the available field observations of nucleation concluded that organic vapours could, in principle, participate in nucleation, but nucleation mechanisms that involve organics have not yet been identified....
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...Kulmala et al. (2004b) further presented a new theory that explains new particle formation via activation of stable inorganic clusters by organic vapors....
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...It appears very likely, however, that organics contribute to the growth of nucleated particles and indirectly affect the formation rate of new particles of detectable sizes (Zhang and Wexler, 2002; Anttila and Kerminen, 2003; Kulmala et al., 2004b)....
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TL;DR: The current state of knowledge, major open questions, and research perspectives on the properties and interactions of atmospheric aerosols and their effects on climate and human health are outlined.
Abstract: Aerosols are of central importance for atmospheric chemistry and physics, the biosphere, climate, and public health. The airborne solid and liquid particles in the nanometer to micrometer size range influence the energy balance of the Earth, the hydrological cycle, atmospheric circulation, and the abundance of greenhouse and reactive trace gases. Moreover, they play important roles in the reproduction of biological organisms and can cause or enhance diseases. The primary parameters that determine the environmental and health effects of aerosol particles are their concentration, size, structure, and chemical composition. These parameters, however, are spatially and temporally highly variable. The quantification and identification of biological particles and carbonaceous components of fine particulate matter in the air (organic compounds and black or elemental carbon, respectively) represent demanding analytical challenges. This Review outlines the current state of knowledge, major open questions, and research perspectives on the properties and interactions of atmospheric aerosols and their effects on climate and human health.
1,868 citations
TL;DR: The surface properties of ENPs are of essential importance for their aggregation behavior, and thus for their mobility in aquatic and terrestrial systems and for their interactions with algae, plants and, fungi as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Developments in nanotechnology are leading to a rapid proliferation of new materials that are likely to become a source of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) to the environment, where their possible ecotoxicological impacts remain unknown. The surface properties of ENPs are of essential importance for their aggregation behavior, and thus for their mobility in aquatic and terrestrial systems and for their interactions with algae, plants and, fungi. Interactions of ENPs with natural organic matter have to be considered as well, as those will alter the ENPs aggregation behavior in surface waters or in soils. Cells of plants, algae, and fungi possess cell walls that constitute a primary site for interaction and a barrier for the entrance of ENPs. Mechanisms allowing ENPs to pass through cell walls and membranes are as yet poorly understood. Inside cells, ENPs might directly provoke alterations of membranes and other cell structures and molecules, as well as protective mechanisms. Indirect effects of ENPs depend on their chemical and physical properties and may include physical restraints (clogging effects), solubilization of toxic ENP compounds, or production of reactive oxygen species. Many questions regarding the bioavailability of ENPs, their uptake by algae, plants, and fungi and the toxicity mechanisms remain to be elucidated.
1,548 citations
Cites background from "Formation and growth rates of ultra..."
...During the course of gas to particle conversion (nucleation) in the latter two processes, the gaseous molecules are first combined into ultrafine nuclei (3–20 nm) through binary water-sulfuric acid, ternary water-sulfuric acid-ammonia, or ion-induced nucleation (Kulmala 2003; Kulmala et al. 2004)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the role of chemical composition and particle size in cloud condensation nucleation processes, and the role that the chemical composition plays in the process of cloud droplet and ice nucleation.
1,347 citations
References
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TL;DR: The major source of cloud-condensation nuclei (CCN) over the oceans appears to be dimethylsulphide, which is produced by planktonic algae in sea water and oxidizes in the atmosphere to form a sulphate aerosol as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The major source of cloud-condensation nuclei (CCN) over the oceans appears to be dimethylsulphide, which is produced by planktonic algae in sea water and oxidizes in the atmosphere to form a sulphate aerosol Because the reflectance (albedo) of clouds (and thus the Earth's radiation budget) is sensitive to CCN density, biological regulation of the climate is possible through the effects of temperature and sunlight on phytoplankton population and dimethylsulphide production. To counteract the warming due to doubling of atmospheric CO2, an approximate doubling of CCN would be needed.
3,783 citations
TL;DR: Human activities are releasing tiny particles (aerosols) into the atmosphere that enhance scattering and absorption of solar radiation, which can lead to a weaker hydrological cycle, which connects directly to availability and quality of fresh water, a major environmental issue of the 21st century.
Abstract: Human activities are releasing tiny particles (aerosols) into the atmosphere. These human-made aerosols enhance scattering and absorption of solar radiation. They also produce brighter clouds that are less efficient at releasing precipitation. These in turn lead to large reductions in the amount of solar irradiance reaching Earth's surface, a corresponding increase in solar heating of the atmosphere, changes in the atmospheric temperature structure, suppression of rainfall, and less efficient removal of pollutants. These aerosol effects can lead to a weaker hydrological cycle, which connects directly to availability and quality of fresh water, a major environmental issue of the 21st century.
3,469 citations
TL;DR: An improved version of the Hewitt (differential) electric mobility analyzer was developed and its classifying characteristics were determined theoretically in this article, where the central mobility of the classified aerosol was found to be (qc + qm)/4πΛV, where qc and qm are the clean air and main outlet flows, respectively, and Λ is a geometric factor, and the center rod voltage.
1,352 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a differential mobility classifier with a condensation nuclei counter as a detector to measure the electric field strength of a single particle in a time-varying electric field.
Abstract: The measurement of particle size distributions using electrical mobility can be accelerated significantly by an alternate mode of operating mobility instruments. Rather than changing the electric field in discrete steps to select particles in a given mobility range, the electric field can be scanned continuously. The particles are classified in a time-varying electric field, but for an exponential ramp in the field strength there remains a one-to-one correspondence between the time a particle enters the classifier and the time it leaves. By this method, complete scans of mobility with as many as 100 mobility measurements have been made in 30 seconds using a differential mobility classifier with a condensation nuclei counter as a detector.
854 citations
"Formation and growth rates of ultra..." refers methods in this paper
...DMA-CNC systems may also be operated as Scanning Mobility Particle Sizers (SMPS; Wang and Flagan, 1990), whereby particle concentrations are measured as the classifying voltage is increased at a continuous rate....
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TL;DR: A review of recent developments in atmospheric aerosol measurements can be found in this article, which focuses on measurements of aerosol integral properties (total number concentration, CCN concentration, optical coefficients, etc.), aerosol physical chemical properties (density, refractive index, equilibrium water content, etc.).
806 citations