Work

Source apportionment of particulate matter and its oxidative potential in an urban-industrial hot spot of Central Italy

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: One-year PM 10 monitoring was conducted in a hot spot of Central Italy in 2022. The study area is an open-air laboratory for in-depth investigation into PM emissions and their health effects due to the presence of intense residential and industrial sources. PM 10 was collected daily on quartz filters using a high-volume sampling system to obtain a comprehensive chemical characterization, including OC, EC, levoglucosan, ions, macro-, micro-, and trace elements, as well as the measurement of OP of PM 10 by employing OP DTT , OP AA , and OP DCFH assays. Source apportionment of PM 10 mass concentration and its OP was performed by PMF and MLR, respectively. PMF analysis identified 7 main emission sources of PM 10 : biomass burning for home heating, vehicular traffic including exhaust and non-exhaust emissions, two steel plant sources, soil dust, sea spray, and secondary inorganics. PM 10 mass concentration was dominated by biomass burning (29%), vehicular traffic (20%), and soil dust (17%). Source apportionment of OP by MLR revealed a differential sensitivity among the three OP assays: OP DTT responded significantly (p < 0.05) to urban sources (biomass burning 36%, vehicular traffic 24%), steel plant emissions (10%), and secondary inorganic species (18%), OP AA to vehicular traffic (43%), and OP DCFH to biomass burning (42%). These distinct specificities underscore why the employment of multiple assays is useful for the assessment of OP of PM 10 and highlight the need for further research to elucidate the accuracy of OP assays in reflecting oxidative stress mechanisms and health effects, calling for caution in adopting OP as a regulatory metric.

Source: Atmospheric Environment

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2026.122044

Authors: Lorenzo Massimi, Alice Zara, Caterina Tiraboschi, Mara Galletti, Marco Vecchiocattivi, Silvia Canepari

Institutions: Sapienza University of Rome, Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale dell'Umbria

Language: English

Topic: Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,910