Singlet Oxygen Seasonality in Aqueous PM10 is Driven by Biomass Burning and Anthropogenic Secondary Organic Aerosol

The first excited state of molecular oxygen is singlet-state oxygen (1O2), formed by indirect photochemistry of chromophoric organic matter. To determine whether 1O2 can be a competitive atmospheric oxidant, we must first quantify its production in organic aerosols (OA). Here, we report the spatiotemporal distribution of 1O2 over a 1-year dataset of PM10 extracts at two locations in Switzerland, representing a rural and suburban site. Using a chemical probe technique, we measured 1O2 steady-state concentrations with a seasonality over an order of magnitude peaking in wintertime at 4.59 +/- 0.01 x 10-13 M and with a quantum yield of up to 2%. Next, we identified biomass burning and anthropogenic secondary OA (SOA) as the drivers for 1O2 formation in the PM10 aqueous extracts using source apportionment data. Importantly, the quantity, the amount of brown carbon present in PM10, and the quality, the chemical composition of the brown carbon present, influence the concentration of 1O2 sensitized in each extract. Anthropogenic SOA in the extracts were 4 times more efficient in sensitizing 1O2 than primary biomass burning aerosols. Last, we developed an empirical fit to estimate 1O2 concentrations based on PM10 components, unlocking the ability to estimate 1O2 from existing source apportionment data. Overall, 1O2 is likely a competitive photo-oxidant in PM10 since 1O2 is sensitized by ubiquitous biomass burning OA and anthropogenic SOA.

Automated summary

The first excited state of molecular oxygen, singlet-state oxygen (1O2), is formed by indirect photochemistry of chromophoric organic matter. In this study, the spatiotemporal distribution of 1O2 in PM10 extracts from two locations in Switzerland was investigated. The results showed that 1O2 concentrations exhibited a seasonality, with the highest concentration observed in wintertime. Biomass burning and anthropogenic secondary organic aerosols were identified as the main drivers for 1O2 formation. The amount and chemical composition of brown carbon in PM10 impacted the concentration of sensitized 1O2 in each extract. An empirical fit was developed to estimate 1O2 concentrations based on PM10 components, providing a method to estimate 1O2 using existing source apportionment data.