Physical and Chemical Characterization of Particulate Matter: Ambient, Personal, and Indoor Perspectives

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 616

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Ishikawa, Japan
Interests: ultrafine particles (UFPs); PM2.5; carbonaceous components; PAHs; indoor air quality; ambient air monitoring; aerosol; personal exposure; heavy metal

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Guest Editor
H&TRC—Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL—Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: indoor air quality; occupational exposure; bioburden; fungi; Aspergillus spp.; statistical analysis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture of airborne particles varying in size, composition, and origin, with significant implications for environmental and human health. This Special Issue entitled "Physical and Chemical Characterization of Particulate Matter: Ambient, Personal, and Indoor Perspectives" aims to advance the understanding of PM from various exposure settings. This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews that explore ambient, indoor, and personal PM exposure, focusing on both physical characteristics, such as mass concentration and particle size distribution, and chemical composition, including heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carbonaceous components (organic and elemental carbon), and other toxic substances. Emphasis is placed on studies conducted in developing regions, such as Southeast Asia and Africa, where unique sources, environmental conditions, and health impacts warrant further investigation. This Special Issue also encourages contributions that leverage novel sampling techniques, innovative analytical tools, and interdisciplinary approaches to assess the size-segregated behavior and health implications of PM in diverse settings. By addressing these multifaceted aspects, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive resource for scientists, policymakers, and environmental practitioners tackling the challenges of PM management and health risk assessment globally.

Dr. Muhammad Amin
Dr. Elisabete Carolino
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • particulate matter (PM)
  • mass concentration
  • chemical composition (e.g., heavy metals, PAHs, carbonaceous components)
  • indoor air quality
  • personal exposure
  • size-segregated PM analysis
  • source apportionment
  • air pollution in developing countries
  • environmental monitoring
  • health risk assessment

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 2723 KiB  
Article
Real-Time Insights into Indoor Air Quality in University Environments: PM and CO2 Monitoring
by Dan-Marius Mustață, Daniel Bisorca, Ioana Ionel, Ahmed Adjal and Ramon-Mihai Balogh
Atmosphere 2025, 16(8), 972; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16080972 - 16 Aug 2025
Viewed by 253
Abstract
This study presents real-time measurements of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations across five university indoor environments with varying occupancy levels and natural ventilation conditions. CO2 concentrations frequently exceeded the [...] Read more.
This study presents real-time measurements of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations across five university indoor environments with varying occupancy levels and natural ventilation conditions. CO2 concentrations frequently exceeded the 1000 ppm guideline, with peak values reaching 3018 ppm and 2715 ppm in lecture spaces, whereas one workshop environment maintained levels well below limits (mean = 668 ppm). PM concentrations varied widely: PM10 reached 541.5 µg/m3 in a carpeted amphitheater, significantly surpassing the 50 µg/m3 legal daily limit, while a well-ventilated classroom exhibited lower levels despite moderate occupancy (PM10 max = 116.9 µg/m3). Elevated PM values were strongly associated with flooring type and occupant movement, not just activity type. Notably, window ventilation during breaks reduced CO2 concentrations by up to 305 ppm (p < 1 × 10−47) and PM10 by over 20% in rooms with favorable layouts. These findings highlight the importance of ventilation strategy, spatial orientation, and surface materials in shaping indoor air quality. The study emphasizes the need for targeted, non-invasive interventions to reduce pollutant exposure in historic university buildings where mechanical ventilation upgrades are often restricted. Full article
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