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Atmosphere
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Physical and Chemical Characterization of Particulate Matter: Ambient, Personal, and...
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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: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 7358

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Muhammad Amin

E-Mail Website
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
Dr. Elisabete Carolino

E-Mail Website
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
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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 (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1358 KB  
Article
Quantification of Heavy Metals in Indoor Dust for Health Risk Assessment in Macao
by Thomas M. T. Lei, Wenlong Ye, Yuyang Liu, Wan Hee Cheng, Altaf Hossain Molla, L.-W. Antony Chen and Shuiping Wu
Atmosphere 2025, 16(11), 1294; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16111294 - 15 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1372
Abstract
The presence of heavy metals plays a significant role in indoor air quality, which poses a serious public health problem since most of the population spends over 90% of their time in indoor environments. This work investigates heavy metals in indoor dust across [...] Read more.
The presence of heavy metals plays a significant role in indoor air quality, which poses a serious public health problem since most of the population spends over 90% of their time in indoor environments. This work investigates heavy metals in indoor dust across different occupational settings in Macao. Field sampling was conducted in five representative locations, which included restaurants, student dormitories, auto repair shops, offices, and parking security rooms, with a total of 11 samples collected in this study. Dust in the form of particulate matter was collected from air conditioning filters to quantify 14 heavy metal contents. The PMF model was applied for source apportionments of the heavy metals, while a health exposure model was used to assess health risks and evaluate the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks in the five representative workplaces. The PMF model identified six major pollution sources: traffic emissions (23.800%), building materials (21.600%), cooking activities (18.500%), chemicals (15.200%), electronic devices (12.300%), and outdoor seaport activities (8.600%). The health risk assessment showed that the overall non-carcinogenic risk (HI = 6.160 × 10−6 for inhalation, 1.720 × 10−3 for oral ingestion, and 2.270 × 10−5 for dermal contact) and total HI (1.749 × 10−3) and carcinogenic risk (6.570 × 10−9) were below the safety threshold, showing minimal health risk problems. Nevertheless, nickel and chromium were identified as the main contributors to potential long-term risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical and Chemical Characterization of Particulate Matter: Ambient, Personal, and Indoor Perspectives)
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19 pages, 783 KB  
Article
Occupational Exposure Assessment of Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Ceramic Industry of Indonesia
by Moch Sahri, Shintia Yunita Arini, Farahul Jannah and Muhammad Amin
Atmosphere 2025, 16(10), 1125; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16101125 - 25 Sep 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2774
Abstract
This study evaluates occupational exposure to respirable particulate matter (PM2.5) and crystalline silica (c-silica) among workers in five ceramic industries in Indonesia. Personal sampling revealed that 55.3% of workers were exposed to c-silica levels exceeding the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 50 µg/m [...] Read more.
This study evaluates occupational exposure to respirable particulate matter (PM2.5) and crystalline silica (c-silica) among workers in five ceramic industries in Indonesia. Personal sampling revealed that 55.3% of workers were exposed to c-silica levels exceeding the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 50 µg/m3, with concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 1395.3 µg/m3. PM2.5 levels reached as high as 4152.4 µg/m3 in certain production zones. Health surveys identified frequent respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath (27.1%) and chronic cough (14.6%), with 6.4% of workers showing lung abnormalities on chest X-rays. Risk assessments based on chronic daily intake (CDI), hazard quotient (HQ), and risk quotient (RQ) revealed that 63.8% of workers faced unsafe exposure, particularly those with longer job tenures, older age, and poor compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE). To mitigate risks, the study recommends engineering controls such as more local exhaust ventilation, improved PPE usage, and administrative measures including job rotation and regular health monitoring. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved occupational health strategies in silica-intensive industries and call for further research on long-term health impacts and effective intervention programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical and Chemical Characterization of Particulate Matter: Ambient, Personal, and Indoor Perspectives)
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14 pages, 2723 KB  
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
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2577
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
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical and Chemical Characterization of Particulate Matter: Ambient, Personal, and Indoor Perspectives)
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