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Toxics
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Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution
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Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 22 August 2025 | Viewed by 6954

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jian Gao

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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: air pollution; aerosol; haze; air quality monitoring; atmospheric particulate matter
Dr. Jiaqi Wang

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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: air pollution; haze; nitrogen cycle; atmospheric particulate matter; field observation; gaseous nitrite

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research on atmospheric aerosols has received increasing attention in recent years due to its significant impact on our health and climate. In particular, analyses of the sources and components of aerosols have long been a research hotspot in the field of atmospheric environmental science. This Special Issue will focus on the cutting-edge research achievements relating to the sources and composition of aerosols, especially  research on the sources, chemical components, toxicological characteristics, and health effects of aerosols. For this Special Issue, we welcome original research papers on the following topics: methods for analyzing the source of particulate matter; the chemical composition and mechanisms of formation of particulate matter; the physical and microscopic morphology of particulate matter; composition of aerosol organic compounds; toxicological characteristics of aerosol components; and cutting-edge research achievements relating to the health effects of particulate matter.

Prof. Dr. Jian Gao
Dr. Jiaqi Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Toxics 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 2600 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

  • atmospheric aerosols
  • sources and composition of aerosols
  • toxicological characteristics
  • particulate matter
  • aerosol components

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1409 KiB  
Article
Urban-Rural Differences in Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality: A Comparative Study in Bangladesh
by Masamitsu Kurata, Akira Hibiki, Kazushi Takahashi and Yutaka Matsumi
Toxics 2025, 13(6), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13060509 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 286
Abstract
Health hazards caused by indoor air pollution (IAP) remain a global concern, especially in developing countries. IAP has complex mechanisms related to outdoor air pollution (OAP) and various other factors, and their relationship needs to be clarified to examine effective policies. We conducted [...] Read more.
Health hazards caused by indoor air pollution (IAP) remain a global concern, especially in developing countries. IAP has complex mechanisms related to outdoor air pollution (OAP) and various other factors, and their relationship needs to be clarified to examine effective policies. We conducted an indoor and outdoor air monitoring survey in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas in Bangladesh, one of the countries with the most severe air pollution. The results show that IAP is more severe in urban households than in rural households, with a five-fold difference in daily indoor PM2.5 concentration between 117 μg/m3 and 22 μg/m3, respectively. Regression analysis reveals that IAP is strongly associated with OAP and is hardly affected by solid fuels used in well-ventilated outside kitchens. Our findings support the view that the mitigation of IAP in developing countries can be achieved not only through a transition to clean fuels, which often entails substantial costs, but also through more practical and accessible alternatives, such as the use of outdoor kitchens, electric fans, and careful management of behaviors such as indoor smoking and mosquito coil use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution)
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25 pages, 3745 KiB  
Article
Optical Properties and Molecular Composition of Fine Organic Aerosols in Nanjing, China: A Comparison of 2019 and 2023
by Binhuang Zhou, Yu Huang, Liangyu Feng, Zihao Zhang, Haiwei Li, Yun Wu, Jianhuai Ye and Xinlei Ge
Toxics 2025, 13(6), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13060443 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 404
Abstract
Optical properties and chemical composition of atmospheric fine particles (PM2.5) are critical to their environmental and health effects. In this study, we analyzed the organic aerosols (OA) in PM2.5 samples in Nanjing, China, collected during the summer and winter of [...] Read more.
Optical properties and chemical composition of atmospheric fine particles (PM2.5) are critical to their environmental and health effects. In this study, we analyzed the organic aerosols (OA) in PM2.5 samples in Nanjing, China, collected during the summer and winter of 2019 and 2023. Results show a decline in both concentrations and light-absorbing abilities of methanol—soluble organic carbon (MSOC) and water-soluble OC (WSOC) in OA from 2019 to 2023. Due to increased combustion activities, MSOC and WSOC concentrations, and their corresponding mass absorption efficiencies were all higher in winter than in summer. Furthermore, fluorescence indices suggest that OA in Nanjing was influenced by a mix of microbial/biogenic sources. Fluorescent properties of both WSOC and MSOC were dominated by humic-like components but the remaining contribution from protein-like components was more significant in MSOC. The molecular composition of OA did not show a remarkable difference between 2019 and 2023. Overall, CHON compounds were the most abundant species, followed by CHO and CHN compounds, and aliphatic compounds dominated all molecular types except for CHN (in positive mode) and CHON, CHOS (in negative mode). Regarding the OA sources, the numbers of molecules from fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning (BB) were a bit more in 2023 than in 2019, and signal intensities of BB-related molecules were also higher in winter than in summer; the presence of organosulfates indicate the contribution of aqueous-phase oxidation to OA, especially during high relative humidity conditions. At last, correlations between OA molecules and light absorption efficiencies indicate that the key light-absorbing species in winter and summer were likely quite different despite similar chemical compositions, and in summer, CH and CHN compounds were important to light absorption, whereas CHNS compounds became more important in winter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution)
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31 pages, 8021 KiB  
Article
Impacts of NO2 on Urban Air Quality and Causes of Its High Ambient Levels: Insights from a Relatively Long-Term Data Analysis in a Typical Petrochemical City in the Bohai Bay Region, China
by Xiaoshuai Gao, Cong An, Yongxin Yan, Yuanyuan Ji, Wei Wei, Likun Xue, Rui Gao, Fanyi Shang, Jidong Li, Luyao Tan and Hong Li
Toxics 2025, 13(3), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13030208 - 13 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 704
Abstract
The ambient levels of NO2 in urban areas in China in recent years have generally shown a downward trend, but high NO2 concentrations still exist under certain conditions, and the causes for such phenomenon and its impact on air quality remain [...] Read more.
The ambient levels of NO2 in urban areas in China in recent years have generally shown a downward trend, but high NO2 concentrations still exist under certain conditions, and the causes for such phenomenon and its impact on air quality remain unclear. Taking Dongying, a typical petrochemical city in the Bohai Bay of China, as an example, this paper analyzed the influence of NO2 on urban air quality and investigated the causes for the formation of NO2 with high concentrations. The results indicated that higher daily NO2 concentrations (>40 μg/m3) mainly occurred during January-April and September-December each year, and higher hourly NO2 concentrations mainly occurred during the nighttime and morning rush hour in Dongying from 2017 to 2023. With the increase in daily NO2 concentrations, the daily air pollution levels showed a general increasing trend from 2017 to 2023. The occurrence of high NO2 values in Dongying was affected by the combination of unfavorable meteorological conditions, local emissions and regional transports, and localized atmospheric chemical generation. High-pressure and uniform-pressure weather patterns in 2017–2022, along with land–sea breeze circulation in 2022, contribute to high NO2 concentrations in Dongying. Boundary layer heights (BLH) in spring (−0.43) and winter (−0.36), wind direction in summer (0.21), and temperature in autumn (−0.46) are the primary meteorological factors driving NO2-HH (High hourly NO2 values), while BLH (−0.47) is the main cause for NO2-HD (High daily NO2 values). The titration reaction between NO with O3 is the main cause for NO2-HH in spring, summer and autumn, and photochemical reactions of aromatics have a significant influence on NO2-HD. NOx emissions from the thermal power and petrochemical industry in Dongying and air pollution transports from western and southwestern Shandong Province (throughout the year) and from the Bohai Sea (during spring and summer) had serious adverse impact on high NO2 values in 2022. The results of the study could help to provide a scientific basis for the control of NO2 and the continuous improvement of air quality in Dongying and similar petrochemical cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution)
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15 pages, 1579 KiB  
Article
Characteristic Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of PM2.5 and VOCs in Tianjin Based on High-Resolution Online Data
by Yanqi Huangfu, Feng Wang, Qili Dai, Danni Liang, Guoliang Shi and Yinchang Feng
Toxics 2024, 12(9), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12090622 - 23 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1363
Abstract
This study leveraged 2019 online data of particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Tianjin to analyze atmospheric pollution characteristics. PM2.5 was found to be primarily composed of water-soluble ions, with nitrates as the dominant component, while VOCs [...] Read more.
This study leveraged 2019 online data of particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Tianjin to analyze atmospheric pollution characteristics. PM2.5 was found to be primarily composed of water-soluble ions, with nitrates as the dominant component, while VOCs were predominantly alkanes, followed by alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons, with notable concentrations of propane, ethane, ethylene, toluene, and benzene. The receptor model identified six major sources of PM2.5 and seven major sources of VOCs. The secondary source is the main contribution source, while motor vehicles and coal burning are important primary contribution sources in PM2.5. And, industrial processes and natural gas volatilization were considered major contributors for VOCs. A health risk assessment indicated negligible non-carcinogenic risks but potential carcinogenic risks from trace metals As and Cr, and benzene within VOCs, underscoring the necessity for focused public health measures. A risk attribution analysis attributed As and Cr in PM to coal combustion and vehicular emissions. Benzene in VOCs primarily originates from fuel evaporation, and industrial and vehicular emissions. These findings underscore the potential for reducing health risks from PM and VOCs through enhanced regulation of emissions in coal, industry, and transportation. Such strategies are vital for advancing air quality management and safeguarding public health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution)
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Review

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35 pages, 5171 KiB  
Review
A Review of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds from Plants: Research Progress and Future Prospects
by Rongrong Luo, Xiaoxiu Lun, Rui Gao, Le Wang, Yuan Yang, Xingqian Su, Md Habibullah-Al-Mamun, Xiaohang Xu, Hong Li and Jinjuan Li
Toxics 2025, 13(5), 364; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13050364 - 30 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1271
Abstract
Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted by plants contribute to secondary air pollution through photochemical reactions in sunlight. Due to the influence of multiple factors, accurately characterizing and quantifying the emission of BVOCs from plant sources is challenging, which poses significant obstacles to [...] Read more.
Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted by plants contribute to secondary air pollution through photochemical reactions in sunlight. Due to the influence of multiple factors, accurately characterizing and quantifying the emission of BVOCs from plant sources is challenging, which poses significant obstacles to the effective management and control of BVOCs. Therefore, this paper summarizes the emission mechanisms of BVOCs from plants, explores the primary factors influencing variations in the emission rates of these compounds, and evaluates the advantages and limitations of contemporary “measurement-modeling” methods for characterizing BVOC emissions. It is concluded that current measurement techniques still need to be further developed to meet the criteria of simplicity, affordability, and high precision simultaneously, and in terms of modeling and prediction studies, there is a lack of in-depth research on the atmospheric chemistry of BVOCs and the synergistic effects of multiple factors. Finally, it is suggested to leverage interdisciplinary strengths to develop advanced measurement technologies and high-resolution models for monitoring volatile compounds. Additionally, strategically selecting low-BVOC tree species in pollution-vulnerable urban areas—contingent on rigorous ecological assessments—combined with stringent controls on anthropogenic precursors (e.g., anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs)) could serve as a complementary measure to mitigate secondary pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution)
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20 pages, 9215 KiB  
Review
Atmospheric Heavy Metal Pollution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment Across Various Type of Cities in China
by Zhichun Cha, Xi Zhang, Kai Zhang, Guanhua Zhou, Jian Gao, Sichu Sun, Yuanguan Gao and Haiyan Liu
Toxics 2025, 13(3), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13030220 - 17 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 879
Abstract
This study investigates the spatiotemporal trends and health risks of nine atmospheric heavy metals (Pb, As, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Zn, Cu, Fe) in PM2.5 across 50 Chinse cities, comparing resource-industrial cities (RICs) and general cities (GCs) before (2014–2018) and after (2019–2021) [...] Read more.
This study investigates the spatiotemporal trends and health risks of nine atmospheric heavy metals (Pb, As, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Zn, Cu, Fe) in PM2.5 across 50 Chinse cities, comparing resource-industrial cities (RICs) and general cities (GCs) before (2014–2018) and after (2019–2021) China’s 2018 Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan. Post-2018, concentrations of all metals except Fe declined significantly (33–77%), surpassing PM2.5 reductions (25%). Geospatial analysis revealed elevated heavy metal levels in northern and southern regions in China, aligning with industrial and mining hotspots. While RICs exhibited persistently higher metal concentrations than GCs, the inter-city gap narrowed post-2018, with RICs achieving greater reduction. Pre-2018, the combined non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI < 1) remained below safety thresholds, but the combined carcinogenic risk total (CRT) for children exceeded 10−4, driven primarily by As and Cr(VI). HIs were 1.5–2.0 times higher in RICs than in GCs. Post-2018, the CRT declined by 69.0–71.1%, aligning with reduced heavy metal levels. Despite improvements, CRTs necessitate targeted mitigation for As (contributing 81.1–86.2% to CRT) and Cr(VI) (11.7–14.0%). These findings validate the policy’s effectiveness in curbing industrial and vehicular emissions but underscore the need for metal-specific controls in resource-intensive regions to safeguard child health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution)
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20 pages, 2282 KiB  
Review
Contamination Characterization, Toxicological Properties, and Health Risk Assessment of Bisphenols in Multiple Media: Current Research Status and Future Perspectives
by Fangyun Long, Yanqin Ren, Fang Bi, Zhenhai Wu, Haijie Zhang, Junling Li, Rui Gao, Zhengyang Liu and Hong Li
Toxics 2025, 13(2), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13020109 - 29 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1422
Abstract
Bisphenols (BPs) are ubiquitous environmental endocrine disruptors that cause various human health hazards and pollute water, soil, and the atmosphere to varying degrees. Although various studies have investigated the pollution characteristics and health hazards of BPs in different media, a systematic review of [...] Read more.
Bisphenols (BPs) are ubiquitous environmental endocrine disruptors that cause various human health hazards and pollute water, soil, and the atmosphere to varying degrees. Although various studies have investigated the pollution characteristics and health hazards of BPs in different media, a systematic review of BPs in the broader environmental context is still lacking. This study highlights the pollution characteristics, detection methods, and risk assessment status of BPs by combining relevant studies from both domestic and international sources, and their environmental distribution characteristics are summarized. The results show that BP pollution is a widespread and complex global phenomenon. Bisphenol A (BPA) remains the predominant component of BPs, which can damage the nervous and reproductive systems. At present, high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry are the main detection methods used for BPs. BPs can also damage the reproductive system, leading to germ cell apoptosis and ovarian damage. Future research should focus on expanding the BP testing repertoire, advancing rapid detection techniques, elucidating toxic mechanisms, conducting comprehensive safety assessments, and developing systematic health risk assessment methods. These efforts will provide a scientific foundation for preventing and controlling emerging pollutants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Source and Components Analysis of Aerosols in Air Pollution)
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