Oxidative potential of size-segregated particulate matter in the dust-storm impacted Hotan, northwest China

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by particulate matter (PM), of which center dot OH is the most active free radical, have adverse health effects; however, PM-induced generation of ROS and center dot OH has not been quantified and studied in northwest China, which suffers from severe dust storms. In this study, ambient PM10 and PM2.5 collected from the urban area of Hotan in the Uygur Autonomous Region of China, during dust and non-sand periods in 2020. ROS and center dot OH were quantified and examined using the dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH) assay and fluorescent probe method. The results showed that the oxidation potential (OP) of PM in the non-dust period (PM2.5: 7.77 +/- 0.29 nmol H2O2 m(-3); PM10: 8.9 +/- 0.38 nmol H2O2 m(-3)) was higher than in the dust period (PM2.5: 1.14 +/- 0.71 nmol H(2)O(2)m(-3); PM10: 1.85 +/- 0.77 nmol H2O2 m(-3)). Compared to PM10, PM2.5 with larger specific surface area is more likely to adsorb the components contributing to ROS generation, so the induction amount of ROS and center dot OH per unit volume in the environment will increase with increasing PM2.5 concentration. There was a weak correlation between O-3 and ROS concentrations in the PM during the day, suggesting that photochemical reactions were a moderating factor in the formation of daytime ROS. In PM2.5, ROS showed a weak correlation with Pb, Cu, and Fe during the dust period. During the non-dust period, significantly correlated with Fe, Cu, and Cd (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). In PM10, ROS correlated significantly with As (P < 0.05) but weakly with Fe and Pb during the dust period. During the non-dust period, significantly correlated with As and Cd (P < 0.01; P < 0.05) and weakly correlated with Ni, Cu, and Fe. This indicates that increasing trace metal levels can increase the OP of atmospheric PM.

Automated summary

This study quantified and studied reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by particulate matter in Hotan, China. It was found that ROS production was higher in non-dust periods compared to dust periods, and PM2.5 with larger surface area showed increased ROS generation. Trace metals were also found to be correlated with ROS production in the particles.