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High levels of lead in pavement dusts in parts of central London have been traced to newspaper printworks in the area. Concentrations exceeding 5000 micrograms g-1, the interim 'action level' adopted by the Greater London Council, extend up to 150 m from the works, with levels of greater than 200 000 micrograms g-1 encountered close to the exit of one works. By contrast, average levels alongside 14 major roads elsewhere in London ranged from 1360 to 3400 micrograms g-1. Identification of the printworks as the probable source was based on the spatial distribution of the lead-in-dust concentrations. Confirmation came from the close association between lead and tin concentrations, tin being a constituent of the lead alloy used in the printing industry. Such an association was not found in dusts contaminated by lead from petrol or paint. Tracking out on shoes and clothing, and possibly vehicles, is the most likely route by which the lead is leaving the works.

Phthalate monoesters (mPAEs) possess biological activity that matches or even exceeds that of their parent compounds, phthalate esters (PAEs), negatively impacting humans. Indoor dust is the main carrier of indoor pollutants. In this study, indoor dust samples were collected from 46 households in Changchun City, Jilin Province, in May 2019, and particulate and flocculent fibrous dust was used as the research target to analyze the concentration and compositional characteristics of mPAEs, primary metabolites of five significant PAEs. The influence of factors such as architectural features and living habits in residential areas on exposure to mPAEs was explored. Ten suspected enzyme genes along with two metabolic pathways with the ability to degrade PAEs were screened using PICRUSt2. The results showed that the total concentrations of the five mPAEs in the indoor dust samples were particulate dust (11.49-78.69 μg/g) and flocculent fibrous dust (21.61-72.63 μg/g), respectively. The molar concentration ratio (R C ) of mPAEs to corresponding PAEs significantly differed among chemicals, with MMP/DMP and MEP/DEP sporting the highest R C values. Different bacterial types have shown distinct influences against mPAEs and PAEs. Enzyme function and metabolic pathway abundance had a significant effect on the concentration of some mPAEs, mPAEs are most likely derived from microbial degradation of PAEs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Materials in car cabins contain performance-enhancing semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). As these SVOCs are not chemically bound to the materials, they can emit from the materials at slow rates to the surrounding, causing human exposure. This study aimed at increasing the understanding on abundance of SVOCs in car cabins by studying 18 potential endocrine disrupting chemicals in car cabin air (gas phase and airborne particles) and dust. We also studied how levels of these chemicals varied by temperature inside the car cabin along with ventilation settings, relevant to human exposure. A positive correlation was observed between temperature and SVOC concentration in both the gas and the particle phase, where average gas phase levels at 80 °C were a factor of 18-16,000 higher than average levels at 25 °C, while average particle phase levels were a factor of 4.6-40,000 higher for the studied substances. This study also showed that levels were below the limit of detection for several SVOCs during realistic driving conditions, i.e., with the ventilation activated. To limit human exposure to SVOCs in car cabins, it is recommended to ventilate a warm car before entering and have the ventilation on during driving, as both temperature and ventilation have a significant impact on SVOC levels., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Climate change is affecting both the frequency and scale of wildfires, as well as the increase in the number of days with Saharan dust intrusions. Traditionally, studies have focused on the extent to which the increase in fine particulate matter (PM) has had an impact on cardio-respiratory diseases, but (apart from PM) not on how the meteorological and pollution conditions in these situations affect other diseases, such as those linked to mental health. This study therefore sought to ascertain how daily mean PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 , O 3 concentrations and daily maximum temperature in heat waves influence daily emergency hospital admissions in Spain caused by mental and behavioural disorders, depression and anxiety on days with PM from biomass combustion and/or Saharan dust intrusions, as compared to days without such conditions, across the period 2009-2018. Our results indicate that on days on which there is biomass combustion, PM concentrations have a statistically significant effect on emergency admissions due to mental disorders, probably related with the toxicity of these particles. Yet on days with intrusions of Saharan dust rather than PM, it is the other variables considered in the analysis that are most closely linked to these types of admissions. The results of this study thus point to the need to implement public health prevention plans which take into account the joint effect of various environmental risk factors that act synergistically in given situations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aerosol proteins, as core biological components of bioaerosols, are garnering increasing attention due to their environmental significance, including their roles in atmospheric processes and associated health risks. However, observational data on the proteins are very limited, leaving their distribution and variation in the atmosphere poorly understood. To investigate the long-distance transport of proteins with Asian dust in the Northern Hemisphere middle latitude westerlies to remote downwind areas, we quantified the soluble proteins in aerosol particles, referred to as aerosol soluble proteins (ASPs), collected in the coastal city of Kumamoto, Japan, during the spring of 2023, when three dust events occurred. The concentration of ASPs ranged from 0.22 to 1.68 μg m -3 , with an average concentration of 0.73 ± 0.36 μg m -3 under dust conditions and 0.31 ± 0.05 μg m -3 under non-dust conditions. During the dust periods, the largest concentration of ASPs (1.68 μg m -3 ) coincided with the peak concentration of suspended particulate matter, and the concentration strongly correlated with the mass concentration of particles larger than 2.5 μm, indicating a close dependence of ASPs on dust particles. Primary estimations indicated a dry deposition flux of ASPs at approximately 1.10 ± 0.87 mg m -2 d -1 under the dust conditions. These results prove that Asian dust efficiently transports proteins, facilitating their dispersion in the atmosphere., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The concentrations, sources, and risk of twenty organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soils and dusts from a typical urban setting in the Niger Delta of Nigeria were examined. The Σ20 OCP concentrations (ng g -1 ) varied from 4.49 to 150 with an average value of 32.6 for soil, 4.67 to 21.5 with an average of 11.7 for indoor dust, and 1.6 to 96.7 with an average value of 23.5 for outdoor dust. The Σ20 OCP concentrations in these media were in the order: soil > outdoor dust > indoor dust, which was in contrast with the order of the detection frequency, i.e., indoor dust (95 to 100 %) > soil (60 to 90 %) > outdoor dust (30 to 80 %). The concentrations of the different OCP classes in these media followed the order: aldrin + dieldrin + endrin and its isomers (Drins) > chlordanes > dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs) > hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) > endosulfans for outdoor dust and soil, while that of the indoor dust followed the order: Drins > chlordanes > endosulfans > DDTs > HCHs. The cancer risk values for human exposure to OCPs in these sites exceeded 10 -6 which indicates possible carcinogenic risks. The sources of OCPs in these media reflected both past use and recent inputs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are widely used as alternatives to brominated flame retardants in a variety of consumer products and their consumption has continuously increased in recent years. However, their concentrations and human exposures in indoor microenvironments, particularly in a university environment, have received limited attention. In this study, the concentrations and seasonal variations of 15 OPFRs were assessed in typical microenvironments of two universities, including dormitories, offices, public microenvironments (PMEs: classroom, dining hall, gymnasium and library), and laboratories on the northern coast of China. Analysis of the OPFRs in both air and dust samples indicated widespread distribution in college campuses. The average concentration of ∑ 15 OPFRs in the winter (12,774.4 ng/g and 5.3 ng/m 3 for dust and air, respectively) was higher than in the summer (2460.4 ng/g and 4.6 ng/m 3 for dust and air, respectively). The dust and air samples collected from PMEs and laboratories exhibited higher concentrations of OPFRs, followed by offices and dormitories. An equilibrium was reached between dust and air in all collected microenvironments. The daily intakes of OPFRs were significantly lower than the reference dose. Dust ingestion was the primary intake pathway in the winter, while inhalation and dust ingestion were the main intake pathways in the summer. The non-carcinogenic hazard quotients fell within the range of 10 -7 -10 -3 in both the summer and winter, which are below the theoretical risk threshold. For the carcinogenic risk, the LCR values ranged from 10 -10 to 10 -8 , indicating no elevated carcinogenic risk due to TnBP, TCEP, and TDCP in indoor dust and air., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Brominated flame retardants, considered emerging contaminants, are widespread and persist in the environment. This study investigated the contamination of legacy and novel brominated flame retardants in paired outdoor settled dusts and pine needles sampled from a megacity in the Eastern China. The measured total concentrations of PBDEs (∑ 27 PBDEs) in outdoor settled dusts and pine needles were in the range of 77.4-345.2 ng/g dw and 20.7-120.0 ng/g dw, respectively, and equivalent ranges for novel brominated flame retardants (∑ 11 NBFRs) were 25.7-1917.2 ng/g dw and 9.4-38.7 ng/g dw, respectively. BDE-209 and DBDPE dominated PBDEs and NBFRs profiles, respectively, in both dusts and pine needles. Outdoor settled dusts exhibited greater potentials to accumulate high-brominated PBDE homologues and EH-TBB while pine needles tended to accumulate low-brominated PBDE homologues, BTBPE and TBC. The plant uptake of BFRs was interpreted by McLachlan's framework on the assumption that the levels of BFRs in outdoor settled dusts and particle phase of air were positively correlated. The accumulation of PBDEs in pine needles was dominated by equilibrium partitioning between the vegetation and the gas phase when log K OA values <10 and by particle-bound deposition when log K OA values >13. However, NBFRs exhibited more complicated accumulation behavior. The predicted 50th percentile of the estimated daily intakes of ∑ 27 PBDEs via outdoor settled dusts exposure for adults and children were 3.5 × 10 -2 and 1.4 × 10 -1  ng/kg body weight (bw)/day, respectively, and equivalent values for ∑ 11 NBFRs were 1.6 × 10 -2  ng/kg bw/day and 6.3 × 10 -2  ng/kg bw/day, respectively. The calculated hazard index (HI) values were far <1, indicating exposure of BFRs via outdoor settled dust intake would not pose potential non-carcinogenic health risks to both adults and children., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mediterranean lakes are facing heightened exposure to multiple stressors, such as intensified Saharan dust deposition, temperature increases and fluctuations linked to heatwaves. However, the combined impact of dust and water temperature on the microbial community in freshwater ecosystems remains underexplored. To assess the interactive effect of dust deposition and temperature on aquatic microbes (heterotrophic bacteria and phytoplankton), a combination of field mesocosm experiments covering a dust gradient (five levels, 0-320 mg L -1 ), and paired laboratory microcosms with increased temperature at two levels (constant and fluctuating high temperature) were conducted in a high mountain lake in the Spanish Sierra Nevada, at three points in time throughout the ice-free period. Heterotrophic bacterial production (HBP) increased with dust load regardless of the temperature regime. However, temperature regime affected the magnitude and nature of the interactive Dust×T effect on HBP. Specifically, constant and fluctuating high temperature showed opposing interactive effects in the short term that became additive over time. The relationships between HBP and predictor variables (soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), excreted organic carbon (EOC), and heterotrophic bacterial abundance (HBA)), coupled with an evaluation of the mechanistic variable photosynthetic carbon use efficiency by bacteria (%CUEb), revealed that bacteria depended on primary production in nearly all treatments when dust was added. The %CUEb increased with dust load in the control temperature treatment, but it was highest at intermediate dust loads under both constant and fluctuating high temperatures. Overall, our results suggest that while dust addition alone strengthens algae-bacteria coupling, high temperatures lead to decoupling in the long term at intermediate dust loads, potentially impacting ecosystem function., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Plants are known for their significant dust retention capacity and are widely used to alleviate atmospheric pollution. Urban green plants are exposed to periodic particulate matter pollution stress, and the time intervals between periods of pollution exposure are often inconsistent. The impact of stress memory and pollution intervals on plant dust retention capacity and physiological characteristics during periodic stress is not yet clear. In this study, the common urban landscaping species Nerium oleander L. was selected as the test plant, and stable isotope ( 15 NH 4 Cl) tracing technology and aerosol generators were used to simulate periodic PM 2.5 pollution. This study included two particulate pollution periods (each lasting 14 days) and one recovery period with three different durations (7, 14, and 21 days). The results indicated that periodic particulate matter pollution-induced stress decreased the dust retention capacity of N. oleander leaf surfaces, but particle adsorption to the wax layer was more stable. As the duration of the recovery period increased, leaf particle absorption, which accounted for the greatest proportion of total dust retention, increased, indicating that leaves are the primary organ for dust retention in Nerium oleander L. Root absorption also increased with increasing recovery periods. Prior pollution stress increased oleander physiological and morphological responses, and the plant's air pollution tolerance significantly improved after a recovery period of >14 days., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Household-related microbiome is closely related with human health. However, the knowledge about profiles of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factor genes (VFGs) which are carried by microbes inside homes and their temporal dynamics are rather limited. Here we monitored the seasonal changes of bacterial community (especially pathogenic bacteria), ARGs, and VFGs in household dust samples during two years. Based on metagenomic sequencing, the dust-related bacterial pathogenic community, ARGs, and VFGs all harbored the lowest richness in spring among four seasons. Their structure (except that of VFGs) also exhibited remarkable differences among the seasons. The structural variations of ARGs and VFGs were almost explained by mobile genetic elements (MGEs), bacterial pathogens, and particulate matter-related factors, with MGEs explaining the most. Moreover, the total normalized abundance of ARGs or VFGs showed no significant change across the seasons. Results of metagenomic binning and microbial network both showed that several pathogenic taxa (e.g., Ralstonia pickettii) were strongly linked with numerous ARGs (mainly resistant to multidrug) and VFGs (mainly encoding motility) simultaneously. Overall, these findings underline the significance of MGEs in structuring ARGs and VFGs inside homes along with seasonal variations, suggesting that household dust is a neglected reservoir for ARGs and VFGs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The microbial carbon (C) flux in the ocean is a key functional process governed by the excretion of organic carbon by phytoplankton (EOC) and heterotrophic bacterial carbon demand (BCD). Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels in upper mixed layers and increasing atmospheric dust deposition from arid regions may alter the degree of coupling in the phytoplankton-bacteria relationship (measured as BCD:EOC ratio) with consequences for the C-flux through these compartments in marine oligotrophic ecosystem. Firstly, we performed a field study across the south-western (SW) Mediterranean Sea to assess the degree of coupling (BCD:EOC) and how it may be related to metabolic balance (total primary production: community respiration; PP T :CR). Secondly, we conducted a microcosm experiment in two contrasting areas (heterotrophic nearshore and autotrophic open sea) to test the impact of UVR and dust interaction on microbial C flux. In the field study, we found that BCD was not satisfied by EOC (i.e., BCD:EOC >1; uncoupled phytoplankton-bacteria relationship). BCD:EOC ratio was negatively related to PP T :CR ratio across the SW Mediterranean Sea. A spatial pattern emerged, i.e. in autotrophic open sea stations uncoupling was less severe (BCD:EOC ranged 1-2), whereas heterotrophic nearshore stations uncoupling was more severe (BCD:EOC > 2). In the experimental study, in the seawater both enriched with dust and under UVR, BCD:EOC ratio decreased by stimulating autotrophic processes (particulate primary production (PP P ) and EOC) in the heterotrophic nearshore area, whereas BCD:EOC increased by stimulating heterotrophic processes [heterotrophic bacterial production (HBP), bacterial growth efficiency (BGE), bacterial respiration (BR)] in the autotrophic open sea. Our results show that this spatial pattern could be reversed under future UVR × Dust scenario. Overall, the impact of greater dust deposition and higher UVR levels will alter the phytoplankton-bacteria C-flux with consequences for the productivity of both communities, their standing stocks, and ultimately, the ecosystem's metabolic balance at the sea surface., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in house dust samples from six regions across four continents. PFASs were detected in all indoor dust samples, with total median concentrations ranging from 17.3 to 197 ng/g. Among the thirty-one PFAS analytes, eight compounds, including emerging PFASs, exhibited high detection frequencies in house dust from all six locations. The levels of PFASs varied by region, with higher concentrations found in Adelaide (Australia), Tianjin (China), and Carbondale (United States, U.S.). Moreover, PFAS composition profiles also differed among regions. Dust from Australia and the U.S. contained high levels of 6:2 fluorotelomer phosphate ester (6:2 diPAP), while perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were predominant in other regions. Furthermore, our results indicate that socioeconomic factors impact PFAS levels. The assessment of human exposure through dust ingestion and dermal contact indicates that toddlers may experience higher exposure levels than adults. However, the hazard quotients of PFASs for both toddlers and adults were below one, indicating significant health risks are unlikely. Our study highlights the widespread occurrence of PFASs in global indoor dust and the need for continued monitoring and regulation of these chemicals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues have been proved to be harmful to human reproduction, endocrine and nervous system. But information on the occurrence and human exposure to bisphenol compounds (BPs) in dust (especially outdoor dust) is limited. In this study, 14 BPs were determined in 174 indoor dust samples and 202 outdoor dust samples from Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. BPA, BPS, BPAF, BPF, BPAP and BPE were widely detected with detection frequencies of 98.94 %, 98.67 %, 97.87 %, 95.21 %, 87.23 % and 71.54 %, respectively. The median total concentrations of the most detected six BPs in the dust were in the order of south urban indoors (556 ng/g) > south rural outdoors (438 ng/g) > south urban outdoors (432 ng/g) > south rural outdoors (418 ng/g) > north rural indoors (412 ng/g) > north urban outdoors (341 ng/g) > north urban indoors (311 ng/g) > north rural outdoors (246 ng/g). The amounts of garbage incineration, plastic output and recycled paper may have influence on the BPs levels. Some BPs (BPAF, BPAP, BPF and BPS) in the indoor and outdoor samples were significantly positively correlated. In addition, the BPs in the indoor dust from different indoor micro environments in Chengdu were investigated. BPA (median concentration: 571.2 ng/g) and BPF (median concentration: 114.3 ng/g) were the two primary BPs, accounting for 78.1 % of the median total concentrations of the investigated BPs. High concentration of BPA appeared in printing workshops and offices, while high concentration of BPAP, BPC, BPE and BPF appeared in electronic repair shops. Occupational exposure to BPs deserves attention in the future. ΣBPs exposure risk for children and adults in the urban areas of southern China was the highest. To our knowledge, this is the first report in China to study BPs in outdoor dust sample., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Zhiwei Gan reports financial support was provided by The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

During durst storms, also biological material is transported from arid areas such as the Sahara Desert. In the present work, rain samples containing significant amounts of mineral dust have been collected in Granada during different red rain episodes. Biological features (bacteria, biofilm, pollen grain and fungal spore) as well as size-particle distribution and mineralogical composition were studied by SEM. Nanobacteria were observed for the first time in red rain samples. A preliminary metabarcoding analysis was performed on three red rain samples. Here, Bacillota made up 18 % and Pseudomonadota 23 % of the whole prokaryotic community. The fungal community was characterized by a high abundance of Ascomycota and, dependent on the origin, the presence of Chytridiomycota. By means of 16S rRNA sequencing, 18 cultivable microorganisms were identified. In general, members of the phyla Pseudomonadota and Bacillota made up the majority of taxa. Some species, such as Peribacillus frigoritolerans and Bacillus halotolerans were isolated during three different red rain episodes. Generally, red rain carries a wide variety of microorganisms, being their ecosystem and health effects largely unknown., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Sixty-eight paired samples of urban surface dust and soil as well as four samples of atmospheric dustfall were collected from the arid city of Urumqi in Northwest China. Thirteen organophosphate esters (OPEs) in these samples were analyzed for the characteristics, sources, bio-accessibility, and health risks of OPEs. The studied OPEs were widely detected in the urban surface dust, soil, and dustfall, with Σ13OPEs (total concentration of 13 OPEs) of 1362, 164.0, and 1367 ng/g, respectively, dominated by tris(2-chloroethyle) phosphate (TCEP), tri(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCiPP), tri(1, 3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCiPP) and tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP), TBOEP and tri(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP), and TCEP, TCiPP, TBOEP, triphenyl phosphate and TEHP, respectively. The low and high frequency magnetic susceptibility of surface dust and urban soil might indicate the pollution of OPEs in them. Elevated levels of the Σ13OPEs in the surface dust and urban soil were found in the west, south, and northeast of Urumqi city. The total deposition flux of dustfall-bound 13 OPEs ranged from 86.5 to 143 ng/m 2 /day, with a mean of 105 ng/m 2 /day. OPEs in the surface dust and urban soil were associated with the emissions of indoor and outdoor products containing OPEs, the dry and wet deposition of atmosphere, and the emissions of traffic. Trimethyl phosphate, triethyl phosphate, tripropyl phosphate, tri-isobutyl phosphate, TCEP, TCiPP, TDCiPP, and TBOEP in surface dust and urban soil had relatively high bio-accessibility. The bio-accessibility of OPEs was mainly affected by the physio-chemical properties of OPEs. The non-cancer and cancer risks of human exposure to OPEs in surface dust and urban soil were relatively low or negligible. The current research results may provide scientific supports for prevention and control of pollution and risks of OPEs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ocular surface diseases are common in the plateau city, Kunming China, the continued daily exposure to heavy metals in dust may be an important inducement. In this study, the 150 road dust samples from five functional areas in Kunming were collected. The concentrations, distribution, possible sources, and bioaccessibility of heavy metals were analyzed. The adverse effects of dust extracts on human corneal epithelial cells and the underlying mechanisms were also assessed. The concentrations (mg·kg -1 ) of As (19.1), Cd (2.67), Cr (90.5), Cu (123), Pb (78.4), and Zn (389) in road dust were higher than the soil background, with commercial and residential areas showing the highest pollution. Their bioaccessibility in artificial tears was As (6.59 %) > Cu (5.11 %) > Ni (1.47 %) > Cr (1.17 %) > Mn (0.84 %) > Cd (0.76 %) > Zn (0.50 %) > Pb (0.31 %). The two main sources of heavy metals included tire and mechanical abrasion (24.5 %) and traffic exhaust (21.6 %). All dust extracts induced cytotoxicity, evidenced by stronger inhibition of cell viability, higher production of ROS, and altered mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes and cell cycle-related genes, with commercial- areas-2 (CA2)-dust extract showing the greatest oxidative damage and cell cycle arrest. Our data may provide new evidence that dust exposure in high geological background cities could trigger human cornea damage., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Metal-related pollution from dust is a significant source of toxic elements in urban areas. The present study aimed to assess the health risk posed by heavy metals present in dust samples to the people residing near the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Dust samples were collected from an STP with a capacity of 130 mega litres per day (MLD). Data analysis indicated highly contaminated STP dust with Enrichment Factor (EF) suggesting an anthropogenic origin of selected metals (As, Co, Al, Cu, Cr, Cd, Ba, Pb, Ni, Mn). The contamination factor values of metals highlighted a greater degree of contamination in the selected area. Notably, a strong correlation (>0.5) was observed between metals. The EF value was found to be >40 indicating high enrichment for all the metals except Fe. In-depth chemical analysis and health risk assessments were conducted, revealing an Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) value of 1 × 10 -6 and HQ (Hazard Quotient) value of 1. These values are significantly exceeding the safe limits for both children and adults which could develop cancerous properties in human beings. In an effort to reduce toxicity, dust samples were also subjected to vermicomposting treatment to assess the potential effectiveness of the earthworms. The EF value of vermicomposted dust came out to be lower than the untreated one. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) values for adults exhibited the following pattern of HQing > HQder > HQinh (indicating that the Hazard Quotient from ingestion is greater than that from dermal contact, which is in turn greater than inhalation). This investigation offers crucial insights into the increased risks of cancerous and non-cancerous ailments for individuals living or working in proximity to STPs. This research also highlights the pressing need to implement effective measures for safeguarding public health and mitigating environmental pollution in urban areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The compound 4-hydroxyphenyl 4-isoprooxyphenylsulfone (BPSIP) has recently emerged as a novel alternative to bisphenol A (BPA) and has been found in various paper products. However, there is limited information available regarding the identification of BPSIP as a novel contaminant in the e-waste dismantling area. In our research, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 16 bisphenol analogues (BPs), including BPSIP, within indoor dust samples obtained from a representative e-waste recycling facility, neighboring rural communities, and control urban communities. Out of the 16 target BPs, ten were found in both e-waste and local household dust, while only six BPs were identified in the control urban household dust. Bisphenol A (BPA) remained the predominant compound, followed by bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), BPSIP and bisphenol AF (BPAF). The total concentrations of BPs in e-waste dust were notably higher compared to both local and urban household dust (p < 0.01), with BPA and BPF, in particular, exhibiting significantly elevated levels. Importantly, BPSIP was first identified in e-waste dust, and its concentration significantly exceeded that of the commonly used BPA alternative, BPAF, which justifiably merits increasing concern. Correlation analysis indicated that BPs were commonly used in the production of electronic products, and e-waste dismantling activities contributed significantly to their widespread emission. The daily intakes of BP through dust ingestion for these three population groups exceeded the recently established tolerable daily intake for BPA, especially among e-waste dismantling workers. This represents the first report indicating that e-waste recycling is causing substantial emissions of multiple bisphenol analogues, including a novel contaminant., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Methylsiloxanes (MSs) are widely used in industrial production and have attracted much attention due to their potential health risks to humans. MSs are present in emissions from petroleum refining, and it is therefore important to assess the health risks to residents living near refineries. In this study, we evaluated the pollution characteristics and human exposure risks of three cyclic MS (CMS) oligomers (D4-D6) in areas upwind and downwind of a petroleum refinery. The concentrations of total CMSs were 4-33 times higher in the downwind than upwind areas. At the same sampling site, the concentrations of CMSs were higher indoors than outdoors. The maximum concentration of CMSs was found in the indoor environment 200 m downwind of the petroleum refinery (75 μg/m 3 in air and 2.3 μg/g in dust). The concentrations and detection rates of CMSs in plasma samples were higher in the downwind than upwind residents. Although residents living downwind of the petroleum refinery were a non-occupationally exposed population, they should be considered a highly CMS-exposed population because of their extremely high internal exposure doses. Inhalation exposure was the main source of CMSs in the plasma of these residents. When different exposure pathways were investigated, inhalation exposure was the major contributor to the average daily dose in residents of locations near the petroleum refinery, whereas the dermal absorption of personal care products was the major contributor at other sites. Although the overall risks of exposure to total CMSs were below the chronic reference dose for all exposure pathways, the combined joint toxic effects of various CMSs remain unclear. Further studies are therefore required to determine the exposure risks and subsequent health effects of CMSs for the residents of these areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Road dust pollution is still an important environmental problem in the cities of northwest China. To better understand the risk exposure and sources of unhealthy metals in road dust and foliar dust, the dust samples were collected in Xi'an city, Northwest China. The sampling period was during December 2019 and 53 metals in the dust were analyzed using Inductive Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometer (ICPA-RQ). Compared to road dust, most metals are found in relatively higher concentrations in foliar dust, especially water-soluble metals, with Mn being 3710 times more abundant in foliar dust. However, the regional characteristics of road dust are more pronounced, i.e., the concentrations of Co and Ni are six times higher in industrial manufacturing areas than in residential areas. The results of the non-negative matrix factorization and principal component analysis source analyses demonstrate this difference, the dust in Xi'an is mainly from transportation (63 %) and natural sources (35 %). From the emission characteristics of the traffic source dust, brake wear is the main cause of traffic source, accounting for 43 %. However, the metal sources in each principal component of foliar dust show a more mixed state, which is consistent with the results of regional characterization. The health risk evaluation shows that traffic sources are the main risk source and contribute 67 % to the total risk. Among them, Pb from tire wear is the main contribution to the total non-carcinogenic risk for children, which is close to the risk threshold. In addition, Cr and Mn are also worthy of attention. The above results all emphasize the contribution of traffic emissions, especially the non-tailpipe emission component, to dust emissions and health risks. Therefore, controlling vehicle wear and tear and exhaust emissions should be the main way to improve air quality, such as traffic control and improvement of vehicle component materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Airborne mineral dust triggers ice formation in clouds and alters cloud microphysical properties by acting as ice-nucleating particles (INPs), potentially influencing weather and climate at regional and global scales. Anthropogenic pollution would modify natural mineral dust during the atmospheric transport process. However, the effects of anthropogenic pollution aging on the ice nucleation activity (INA) of mineral dust remain not well-understood. In this study, we investigated the immersion mode ice nucleation properties and particle chemical characterizations of collected size-resolved Asian dust samples (eight particle size classes ranging from 0.18 to 10.0 μm), and testified the chemical modification of aged dust particles via particle chemistry and morphology analyses including the mass concentrations of particulate matter, the water-soluble ion concentrations, the mental element concentrations, and single-particle morphology. The mass fraction of Ca 2+ in element Ca and the mean relative mass proportions of supermicron Ca 2+ increased by 67.0 % and 3.5-11.2 % in aged Asian dust particles, respectively, suggesting the occurrence of heterogeneous reactions. On the other hand, the total INP concentrations (total N INP ) and total ice nucleation active site densities (total n s (T)) were consistent between aged and normal dust particles (0.62-1.18 times) without a statistically significant difference. And the N INP and n s (T) of chemically aged supermicron dust (1.0-10.0 μm) in each particle size class were nearly equal to or slightly higher than those of normal Asian dust, which were 0.70-2.45 times and 0.64-4.34 times at -18 °C, respectively. These results reveal that anthropogenic air pollution does not notably change the INP concentrations and does not impair the INA of Asian dust. Our work provides direct observational evidence and clarifies the non-suppression effect of anthropogenic air pollution on the INA of East Asian dust, advancing the understanding of the ice nucleation of airborne aged mineral dust., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we conducted a preliminary investigation of the vertical distribution and potential health risks of short and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs) in indoor dust from a multistory residential building in Beijing, China. Forty-eight SCCP and MCCP congener groups in dust from different floors of the multistory residential building were determined by two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with electron capture negative ionization mass spectrometry. The concentration ranges for SCCPs and MCCPs in the dust samples were 0.0239-207 μg/g and 0.135-2903 μg/g, respectively. MCCPs were the dominant group, on average accounting for 76.8 % of ∑CPs. Generally, the concentrations of both SCCPs and MCCPs greatly decreased as the floor level increased, which indicated that the CP contamination was attributed to exogenous atmospheric transport and deposition. C 13 Cl 7-8 and C 14 Cl 7-8 were the dominant SCCP and MCCP congener groups, possibly indicating the use of industrial CP-52 products was the main source of CPs. In the worst-case scenario using the maximum concentrations of CPs, the daily intake of SCCPs for toddlers was of the same order of magnitude as the reference dose. It should be noted that CPs exposure may be more serious when indoor decorations, furniture, and various plastic products are taken into consideration. Overall, more attention should be paid to CPs exposure and control measures in high-rise buildings., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The long retention of dust air masses in polluted areas, especially in winter, may efficiently change the physicochemical properties of aerosols, causing additional health and ecological effects. A large-scale haze-to-dust weather event occurred in the North China Plain (NCP) region during the autumn-to-winter transition period in 2018, affecting the coastal city Qingdao several times between Nov. 27th and Dec. 1st. To study the evolution of the pollution process, we analyzed the chemical characteristics of PM 2.5 and PM 10 - 2.5 The dust stagnated around NCP and moved out and back to the site, noted as dust swing process, promoting SO 2.5 and PM 10, The dust stagnated around NCP and moved out and back to the site, noted as dust swing process, promoting SO 4 2- . Source apportionments were analyzed using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor model and weighted potential source contribution function (WPSCF). Before the dust invasion, Qingdao was influenced by severe haze; waste incineration and coal burning were the major contributors (~80 %) to PM 2.5 , and the source region was in the southwest of Shandong Province. During the initial dust event, mineral dust and the mixed factor of dust and sea salt were the major contributors (46.0 % of PM 3 - ). During the polluted dust period, the contributions of regional transported biomass burning (22.3 %), vehicle emissions (20.8 %), and secondary aerosols (33.8 %) to PM 10 - (30.8 %) during the dust swing process. Our findings demonstrate that environmental managers should consider the possible adverse effects of winter dust on regional and local pollution.2.5 . Source apportionments were analyzed using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor model and weighted potential source contribution function (WPSCF). Before the dust invasion, Qingdao was influenced by severe haze; waste incineration and coal burning were the major contributors (~80 %) to PM 2.5 , and the source region was in the southwest of Shandong Province. During the initial dust event, mineral dust and the mixed factor of dust and sea salt were the major contributors (46.0 % of PM 2.5 and 86.5 % of PM 10 ). During the polluted dust period, the contributions of regional transported biomass burning (22.3 %), vehicle emissions (20.8 %), and secondary aerosols (33.8 %) to PM 2.5 from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region significantly increased. The secondary aerosols source was more regional than that of vehicle emissions and biomass burning and contributed considerably to PM 10 (30.8 %) during the dust swing process. Our findings demonstrate that environmental managers should consider the possible adverse effects of winter dust on regional and local pollution., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sandstorm is a natural meteorological disaster that can appear suddenly and is often extremely destructive. In areas with small number of meteorological observation stations, it is difficult to effectively monitor sandstorm. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data have the characteristics of high resolution and wide coverage, making it possible to monitor dynamic weather changes in a large area over time, and such data are widely used in sandstorm monitoring. The purpose of our research was to achieve a more accurate identification of sandstorm according to the differences in reflectance and brightness temperature between sandstorm and other phenomena, and to better understand the formation, movement track and driving cause of sandstorm extreme event. Taking the intense sandstorm event that occurred in the Yellow River Basin from March 13th to 18th, 2021 as an example, sandstorm process was analyzed based on MODIS data and meteorological monitoring data. The threshold of Normalized Difference Dust Index (NDDI) and Normalized Brightness Temperature Dust Index (NBTDI) realized accurate sandstorm monitoring and quantification of the sandstorm coverage areas. Sandstorm covered 32.89 % and 37.23 % of the total areas of the Yellow River Basin on March 15th and 16th, 2021, respectively. In addition, observation data from 22 meteorological stations also provided an important reference for further understanding of sandstorm weather. The intense sandstorm event in China on March 15th, 2021 originated from the dust in Mongolia. This sandstorm event caused great damage to the ecological environment and caused serious losses to people's lives and properties. This study improved the monitoring of sandstorm by remote sensing technology, and the results had importance for the long-term monitoring and prevention of sandstorm., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Adults can be exposed to chemicals through incidental ingestion of soil and dust, either through hobbies, occupations, or behaviors that increase contact with soil or dust (e.g., cleaning or renovating). However, few data describing these ingestion rates are available., Objective: Our objective was to use the Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose Simulation Soil and Dust (SHEDS-Soil/Dust) model to estimate distributions of soil and dust ingestion rates for adults (≥21 years old) with varying degrees of soil and dust contact., Methods: We parameterized SHEDS-Soil/Dust to estimate soil and dust ingestion rates for several categories of adults: adults in the general population; adults with moderate (higher) soil exposure (represented by hobbyists, such as gardeners, with increased soil contact); adults with high soil exposure (represented by occupationally exposed individuals, such as landscapers); and individuals who have high dust exposure (e.g., are in contact with very dusty indoor environments)., Results: Total soil plus dust ingestion for adults in the general population was 7 mg/day. Hobbyists or adults with moderate soil exposure averaged 33 mg/day and occupationally exposed individuals averaged 123 mg/day. Total soil plus dust ingestion for adults in the high dust exposure scenario was 25 mg/day. Results were driven by time spent in contact with soil and, thus, warmer seasons (e.g., summer) were associated with higher ingestion rates than colder seasons (e.g., winter)., Significance: These results provide modeled estimates of soil and dust ingestion rates for adults for use in decision making using real-world exposure considerations. These modeled estimates suggest that soil and dust ingestion is a potential concern for adults who spend a higher amount of time interacting with either soil or dusty environments., Impact Statement: The parameterization of real-world scenarios within the application of SHEDS-Soil/Dust model to predict soil and dust ingestion rates for adults provides estimates of soil and dust ingestion rates useful for refining population-based risk assessments. These data illuminate drivers of exposure useful for both risk management decisions and designing future studies to improve existing tracer methodologies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Indoor dust is the main carrier of indoor pollutants, especially dust mite allergens and bacteria, they can trigger asthma, rhinitis, eczema and other allergic diseases. However, the interactions between dust mite allergens and bacterial communities in different types of indoor dust are not clear. The study focused on particulate and flocculent fibrous dust, explored the concentrations of Der p 1 (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) and Der f 1 (D. farinae) in 46 households in Changchun and their environmental influences, characterized the bacterial communities by high-throughput sequencing, and the interactions between Der p 1, Der f 1 and bacterial communities were explored. The results showed that Der p 1 and Der f 1 tended to accumulate more in flocculent fibrous dust, and Der p 1 predominated in the indoor dust samples. The floor height, years of housing occupancy and the living areas all affected the concentrations of dust mite allergens. In bacterial community, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were leading phyla in the two types of dust. Kocuria, Blastococcus and Massilia were dominating genera in particulate dust and Acinetobacter, Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium&#95;1 were dominating genera in flocculent fibrous dust. The overall diversity and species richness of bacteria in particulate dust were significantly higher than those in flocculent dust (p < 0.001). The living area was an important environmental factor affecting the bacterial community in flocculent fibrous dust (p < 0.01). The interaction between the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria and dust mite allergen concentrations significantly differed between the two dust types, indicating that bacteria could be used both as food and to establish symbiotic relationships with household dust mites (HDMs) hosts and provide nutrition., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, concerns have arisen from the chemicals incorporated into tire material which are of potential to leach with the tire and road wear particles (TRWP) into the environment. In this study, the distributions of substituted benzothiazoles (BTHs) and p-phenylenediamines (PPDs), two groups of representative TRWP-related chemicals, were investigated in various size fractions (<20, 20-53, 53-125, 125-250, 250-500, 500-1000 μm) of dust samples from open roads and indoor parking lots in the urban region of Guangzhou (Guangdong, China). Mass weight distribution of the dust samples showed that fractions of <250 μm accounted for >72% of the total dust in both microenvironments. Widespread occurrence was observed with >80% detection frequency for almost all target compounds in all the particle fractions. Concentrations of BTHs and PPDs were similar between the two dust matrices. In addition, the newly defined transformation product of 6PPD, 6PPD-Q was at the median concentration of 122 ng/g in road dust and 154 ng/g in indoor parking lot dust. Overall, concentrations of the target BTHs and PPDs varied in different size fractions, which were mostly dominated in fine particle sizes (<53 μm). Specially, >70% of the target compounds were in the size fractions of <250 μm, suggesting the necessity of using <250 μm fractions of particles for monitoring and evaluating contamination levels and exposure risks of BTHs and PPDs from dust in future studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In late March 2018, a large part of the Eastern Mediterranean experienced an extraordinary episode of African dust, one of the most intense in recent years, here referred to as the "Minoan Red" event. The episode mainly affected the Greek island of Crete, where the highest aerosol concentrations over the past 15 yeas were recorded, although impacts were also felt well beyond this core area. Our study fills a gap in dust research by assessing the multi-sectoral impacts of sand and dust storms and their socioeconomic implications. Specifically, we provide a multi-sectoral impact assessment of Crete during the occurrence of this exceptional African dust event. During the day of the occurrence of the maximum dust concentration in Crete, i.e. March 22nd, 2018, we identified impacts on meteorological conditions, agriculture, transport, energy, society (including closing of schools and cancellation of social events), and emergency response systems. As a result, the event led to a 3-fold increase in daily emergency responses compare to previous days associated with urban emergencies and wildfires, a 3.5-fold increase in hospital visits and admissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations and dyspnoea, a reduction of visibility causing aircraft traffic disruptions (eleven cancellations and seven delays), and a reduction of solar energy production. We estimate the cost of direct and indirect effects of the dust episode, considering the most affected socio-economic sectors (e.g. civil protection, aviation, health and solar energy production), to be between 3.4 and 3.8 million EUR for Crete. Since such desert dust transport episodes are natural, meteorology-driven and thus to a large extent unavoidable, we argue that the efficiency of actions to mitigate dust impacts depends on the accuracy of operational dust forecasting and the implementation of relevant early warning systems for social awareness., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) has been widely used as a typical ultraviolet (UV) filter in various personal care products. While BP-3 and its derivatives (BPs) have been detected in various environmental matrices, very little is known about the concentration profile of BPs in human hair. The associations of BPs in human hair with those in indoor dust samples collected from the same locations remain largely unclear. In this study, a total of 258 indoor dust samples and 66 human hair samples were collected across China and analyzed to determine the presence of BP-3 and its derivatives. The BP-3 concentrations ranged from 0.386 to 1230 ng/g dw in indoor dust and from 0.149 to 696 ng/g dw in human hair. No difference was found between BPs in indoor dust samples from different geographic regions (p > 0.05), whereas relatively higher BP concentrations were observed for dust from urban regions than dust from rural ones (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between the BP-3 concentrations of indoor dust and human hair samples (p < 0.05). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of BPs for humans from indoor dust showed a gender difference (females > males; p < 0.05), with the highest EDI value being found in Southwest China (males: 35.5 pg/kg bw/day; females: 40.6 pg/kg bw/day). This study provides the concentration profiles of BPs in human hair and elucidates the associations between the BP concentrations in indoor dust samples and human hair samples collected across China., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Airborne dust represents a hazard to the environment and human health. The outflow of air masses carrying dust from northern Africa, the world's largest active dust source, to the North Atlantic and Mediterranean regions is modulated by atmospheric conditions. However, how global warming-driven changes on atmospheric circulation have influenced North African air outflow in the recent past is not well understood. Here, we explore the Saharan air outflow from northwestern Africa over the 1980 to 2020 period. We find a decrease in the transport to the Atlantic Ocean and the Iberian Peninsula of -0.29 ± 0.16% dec -1 and -0.66 ± 0.18% dec -1 , respectively, and an increasing trend to the Mediterranean Sea (0.24 ± 0.18% dec -1 ) and Europe (0.60 ± 0.18% dec -1 ). The results indicate that the strengthening of the Atlantic high pressure system and the Saharan thermal low, both associated with the narrowing of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the Hadley Cell expansion under global warming, could be favoring the Saharan outflow to the Mediterranean Sea and Europe in detriment of transport to the Atlantic Ocean. The results also show that present-day Saharan air arrives at these regions at higher altitudes and in shorter timescales than decades ago. This is associated to the increase in surface heating conditions in the Sahara, 0.41 ± 0.02 °C dec -1 , that can inject air into windier upper atmospheric levels, thereby allowing higher and faster air transport. Our results suggest a change in the Saharan air outflow likely associated with global warming and with potentially significant implications for the temporal and spatial patterns of North African dust export., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The physicochemical characteristics of dust particles from the Taklimakan Desert are the fundamental basis for the assessment of particle variation during their long-distance transport and the subsequent environmental effects. In this study, 43,222 individual sandblasting dust particles, which were mobilised using a chamber with surface soils of sand dunes and Gobi (the two types of surfaces constituting the desert) were analysed to statistically quantify the shape and mineralogical composition of dust particles from the desert. The mode of the number-size distribution of particles from the sand dunes was 0.5-0.7 μm and that of particles from Gobi soils was approximately 1.0 μm. In contrast, the distributions of particle number fractions versus shape factors such as aspect ratio and roundness were similar, despite the irregular shape of the particles. Clay mineral particles were most frequently composed of chlorite and kaolinite, accounting for 66.74 ± 12.08% of the particles from both types of soils. Quartz and feldspar particles accounted for 9.57 ± 4.52% and 2.84 ± 1.28%, respectively. The mineralogical composition of particles smaller than 1.0 μm, in both soil types, was dominated by chlorite (Al-Si-O-Mg), kaolinite (Ai-Si-O), and quartz (SiO). Gypsum (CaS) and halite (NaCl) were the major salt components in particles from both soil types. Gypsum-containing particles existed in a wide size range and occupied 3.42%-8.98% of the particles from Gobi soils and 0.27%-2.18% of the particles from sand dunes. Most gypsum-containing particles were mixed with Si-containing minerals in the form of silicate or aluminosilicate; the remaining gypsum-containing particles were gypsum crystals or mixtures of gypsum and Ca-containing minerals. These results provide a comprehensive statistical profile of dust particles released by the sandblasting process from the Taklimakan Desert to the atmosphere., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The urbanization of Tibetan Plateau (TP) probably results in a significant contamination of organic pollutants in the area, such as phthalate esters (PAEs). However, there is a lack of monitoring and evaluation of their occurrence and risks in the outdoor dust on TP. This study for the first time investigated the concentrations, distributions and health risk of PAEs in outdoor dust samples on TP, China. A total of 132 outdoor dust samples were collected from five different functional areas, and results showed the ubiquitous detection of all PAEs in the samples. The Σ 6 PAEs concentrations ranged from 0.08 to 31.49 μg·g -1 with a mean of 3.57 μg·g -1 . High concentrations of Σ 6 PAEs in the outdoor dust were found in commercial districts, which were attributed to the heavy use of PAEs in the public commerce such as consumer products, commodities, and building materials. Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were the dominant components accounting for 30.65% and 53.19% of the Σ 6 PAEs. Principal component analysis, positive matrix factorization, and correlation analysis were used to apportion the potential sources of PAEs in outdoor dust samples. The PAEs in the outdoor dust originated mainly from wide application of plasticizers as well as cosmetics and personal care products. The main pathways of human exposure to PAEs in the outdoor dust were ingestion and dermal absorption of dust particles. The total intakes of PAEs from outdoor dusts for children and adults were 1.50 × 10 -5 and 2.47 × 10 -6 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 , respectively. Children were more susceptible to the PAEs intake than the adults. Although the estimated health risks of the six PAEs are currently acceptable, caution is needed given the likely future increase in use of these PAEs and the currently unknown contribution to human exposure by other medium., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The importance of dust and biomass burning episodes on the atmospheric concentration of water-soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) was determined in the eastern Mediterranean. SRP was measured with a new rapid real-time automated analytical system with a time resolution of a few minutes per sample and with an extremely low detection limit. The average atmospheric concentration of SRP during the sampling campaign was estimated at 0.35 ± 0.25 (median 0.30) nmol P m -3 . The maximum concentration of SRP (3.08 nmol P m -3 ) was recorded during an intense dust episode, and was almost ten times higher than the campaign average, confirming that Saharan dust was an important primary source of bioavailable P to the eastern Mediterranean, especially during the spring period when 60% of the events occurred. Predicted increases in the frequency and intensity of dust storms in the area will enhance the role of the atmosphere as a source of bioavailable P for the Mediterranean marine ecosystem. During the warm period, when Northerly winds prevailed, biomass burning processes contributed significantly to soluble phosphorus delivered from atmospheric sources to the eastern Mediterranean. These inputs during warm periods are especially important for the Eastern Mediterranean, where biological productivity is strongly limited by nutrient availability., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ocean-based photosynthesis accounts for half of global primary production. Productivity rates, driven by phytoplanktonic responses to nutrient availability, are however highly variable both spatially and temporally throughout the oceans. Intense primary production in the ocean's most productive areas, the Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS), cannot be fully explained by nutrient upwelling alone, with the role of local dust sources and complimentary aeolian nutrient delivery largely overlooked. Here we explore relationships between iron-rich dust plumes emanating from a significant regional dust source, Namibia's ephemeral river valleys, and blooms of phytoplankton growth off southwest Africa in the Benguela Upwelling System (BUS). We constrain dust source dynamics through field measurement of in-valley airborne dust concentrations made at daily resolution, and couple these with satellite observations of atmospheric aerosols, ocean phytoplankton concentrations, and sea surface temperature over a six-month period encompassing the known 'dust season' of the valley sources. Phytoplanktonic responses in BUS waters to individual dust emission events were identified and were importantly shown to be unassociated with upwelling events. We demonstrate a fast (1-2 day) chlorophyllic response to observed iron-rich dust emissions, a relationship that is concealed by monthly averaged data. We show that terrestrial in-valley airborne dust concentrations correlate with offshore increases in phytoplankton concentrations, providing the first study of oceanic response that is directly linked with a specific monitored terrestrial dust source., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Recent achievement and progress in solar PV play a significant role in controlling climate change. This study reviewed comprehensively electrical characteristics, life cycle of dust, optical characteristics, and different cleaning techniques related to the effect of dust on the performance of PV modules throughout different climate regions of the world. The power maximum power point (MPP) and curve of PV module under the effect of irradiance and temperature were presented. The effect of dust (shading) on the electrical efficiency of PV module was discussed based on soft, partial, and complete (soiling) shading. The physical properties of dust around the globe such as PM 10 concentration, dust loading (mgm -2 ), and fine dust particles concentration were covered and discussed. Reasons behind the accumulation of dust based on, location and installation factors, dust type, and environmental factors. Environmental reasons causing dust and dust removal in accordance with the life cycle of dust was covered in detail. All the reasons that cause the generation, accumulation and removal of dust during its life cycle were explained. All forces responsible for the adhesion phase of the dust life cycle were presented. The effect of dust on PV module transmittance and electrical parameters module were discussed in detail based on physical properties of the dust at its location and installation conditions. Self-cleaning super hydrophobic surfaces based on methods such as solvents, vapor-assisted coating, powder coating, and polymerization were discussed. All cleaning technologies, including self-cleaning technologies, based on the material coating used, and the manufacturing of PV cells was compared. The future prospective for PV technologies and cleaning methods were also covered., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nowadays, plastic pollution attracts attention, while data on microplastic (MP) emissions to atmosphere from urban mining bases are rarely quantified. In this paper, the emission characteristics of MPs in road fugitive dust from two urban mining bases were studied, the emission factors of MPs from road fugitive dust source were updated, and emission inventories were established. It is estimated that the waste glass recycling base and the e-waste dismantling plant emit 1265.53 g and 40.5 g of MPs into atmosphere respectively each year, with the highest percentage of tire micro-rubber. The roads with the most emissions are located in the middle of warehouses and workshops. Emission factors for MPs mainly depend on average vehicle weight, and heavy vehicles cause more MP emissions. Uncertainty analysis of the inventory indicated that the random error of MP emissions on a single road in waste glass recycling base was -79.1%-187.1%, while in e-waste dismantling plant was -62.7%-102.05%, which is mainly related to the silt loading. This study completes the quantitative data on the unorganized emissions of MPs from road fugitive dust in these two typical urban mining bases, and provides guidance for air pollution prevention and control., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

East Asian dust episodes have a multitude of impacts, including on human health, environment, and climate over near-source and receptor regions. However, the mechanistic understanding of the synoptic conditions of these outbreaks at different altitude layers, and their eventual environmental impacts are less studied. The present study analyzed the synoptic transport patterns of East Asian dust during multiple dust generation episodes that occurred over only a few days apart in northern China, and which eventually delivered high PM 10 concentrations to surface level and high-altitude locations in Taiwan. Whether the dust plume was uplifted ahead of or behind the 700 hPa trough over East Asia determined its trajectory and eventual impact on the environment downwind. The total dust (iron) deposition over the ocean surface preceding arrival to Taiwan was 2.4 mg m -2 (0.95 μg m -2 ) for the episode impacting the surface level and 5.0 mg m -2 (4.6 μg m -2 ) for the episode impacting high-altitude Taiwan. Dust deposition in marine areas east of China was more intense for the higher altitude transport event that was uplifted behind the 700 hPa trough and resulted in twice higher marine Chl-a concentrations. Furthermore, we estimated a dust-induced direct radiative effect over a high mountainous region in Taiwan of -6.2 to -8.2 W m -2 at the surface, -1.9 to -2.9 W m -2 at the top of the atmosphere and +3.9 to +5.3 W m -2 in the atmosphere. This dust-induced atmospheric warming and surface cooling are non-negligible influences on the atmospheric thermal structure and biogeochemical cycle over the western North Pacific. Overall, this study highlights the significant impacts of dust particles on the marine ecosystem and atmospheric radiation budget over the downwind region, thus lays the foundation for linking these impacts to the initial synoptic conditions in the source area., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The iron (Fe) speciation and oxidation state have been considered critical factors affecting Fe solubility in the atmosphere and bioavailability in the surface ocean. In this study, elemental composition and Fe speciation in aerosol samples collected at the Palmer Station in the West Antarctic Peninsula were determined using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES) spectroscopy. The elemental composition of coarse-mode (>1 μm) Fe-containing particles suggests that the region's crustal emission is the primary source of aerosol Fe. The Fe minerals in these aerosol particles were predominantly hematite and biotite, but minor fractions of pyrite and ilmenite were observed as well. The Fe oxidation state showed an evident seasonal variation. The Fe(II) content accounted for 71% of the total Fe in the austral summer, while this fraction dropped to 60% in the austral winter. Multivariate linear models involving meteorological parameters suggested that the wind speed, relative humidity, and solar irradiance were the factors that significantly controlled the percentage of Fe(II) in the austral summer. On the contrary, no relationship was found between these factors and the Fe(II) percentage in the austral winter, suggesting that atmospheric photoreduction and regional dust emission were limited. Moreover, the snow depth was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the aerosol Fe concentration, confirming the limiting effect of snow/ice cover on the regional dust emission. Given that the Antarctic Peninsula has experienced rapid warming during recent decades, the ice-free areas in the Antarctic Peninsula may act as potential dust sources., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study compares select dust sampling apparatuses and monitoring methods by investigating fugitive tailings dust transport and deposition at an abandoned Zn-Pb-Cu mine located in eastern, Canada. The sampling apparatuses and monitoring methods are compared in terms of capturing seasonal trends and spatial extent, as well as the ability to evaluate impacts to aquatic ecosystems. Methods evaluated include satellite imagery, lichen tissue analysis, passive dry deposition collectors (Pas-DDs) with two different configurations, dust deposition gauges (DDGs) and a high volume total suspended particulate (Hi-Vol TSP) sampler. All methods utilized demonstrated benefits and challenges in relation to seasonal sampling and determining spatial extent of dust deposition. Results indicate that the polyurethane foam disk configuration of the Pas-DD sampler efficiently accumulates dust in comparison to the glass fiber filter configuration and DDGs which both likely underestimate dust deposition. Lichen and satellite imagery were shown to be effective tools for identifying areas of interest and extent of contamination. At the study site, it was observed that dust deposition was highest in the winter months and lowest in the summer months, likely due to increased erosion in winter weather conditions (higher wind speeds and/or freeze drying effect)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Tire and road wear microplastics (TRWMPs) in road dust are a key source of atmospheric particulate matter and have an adverse impact on human health and the environment. In this study, samples of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM 2.5 ) in road dust were collected from eight megacities in China to determine the TRWMP content, including that of natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and butadiene rubber (BR). The total abundance of TRWMPs was the highest in Lanzhou (174.7 ± 17.0 μg g -1 ), followed by Xi'an (169.3 ± 23.8 μg g -1 ), Beijing (107.5 ± 7.5 μg g -1 ), Changchun (102.2 ± 8.4 μg g -1 ), Chengdu (101.6 ± 12.9 μg g -1 ), Guangzhou (98.8 ± 6.5 μg g -1 ), Wuhan (96.0 ± 5.3 μg g -1 ), and Shanghai (86.1 ± 30.1 μg g -1 ). A considerably higher TRWMP fraction in road dust PM 2.5 was observed in the northern cities than in the southern cities and is attributable to the higher frictional resistance of roads subjected to less precipitation. The abundance of TRWMPs in the southern cities was dependent on road type, but this dependence was not observed in the northern cities. In the south, road dust PM 2.5 on main roads contained more TRWMPs than that on branch roads. Correlation analysis indicated that TRWMPs were associated with tire, road, and break wear. In relation to intracellular oxidative stress factors, higher correlations were observed between TRWMPs and lactate dehydrogenase (r = 0.83) than between TRWMPs and reactive oxygen species (r = 0.59), possibly because TRWMPs destroy the integrity of the cell membrane, with NR exhibiting a higher cytotoxicity than SBR or BR. This study provides evidence that TRWMPs have an adverse impact on human health by inducing cellular oxidative stress. Therefore, further research on TRWMPs in respirable road dust is required., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

PM 2.5 atmospheric samples were regularly collected between January 2013 and March 2015 at a central location of Eastern Mediterranean (Island of Crete) during African dust events (DES) and periods of absence of such episodes as controls (CS). The elemental composition and microbiome DES and CS were thoroughly investigated. Fifty-six major and trace elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Relative mass abundances (RMA) of major crustal elements and lanthanoids were higher in DES than in CS. Conversely in CS, RMAs were higher for most anthropogenic transition metals. Lanthanum-to-other lanthanoids concentration ratios for DES approached the corresponding reference values for continental crust and several African dust source regions, while in CS they exceeded these values. USEPA's UNMIX receptor model, applied in all PM 2.5 samples, established that African dust is the dominant contributing source (by 80%) followed by road dust/fuel oil emissions (17%) in the receptor area. Potential source contribution function (PSCF) identified dust hotspots in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. The application of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed high variation of bacterial composition and diversity between DES and CS samples. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroides were the most dominant in both DES and CS samples, representing ~88% of the total bacterial diversity. Cutibacterium, Tumebacillus and Sphingomonas dominated the CS samples, while Rhizobium and Brevundimonas were the most prevalent genera in DES. Mutual exclusion/co-occurrence network analysis indicated that Sphingomonas and Chryseobacterium exhibited the highest degrees of mutual exclusion in CS, while in DES the corresponding species were Brevundimonas, Delftia, Rubellimicrobium, Flavobacterium, Blastococcus, and Pseudarthrobacter. Some of these microorganisms are emerging global opportunistic pathogens and an increase in human exposure to them as a result of environmental changes, is inevitable., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dust deposition can supply nutrients to the ocean and affect phytoplankton growth. However, the impact of dust deposition on phytoplankton biomass in varying trophic regions remains poorly evaluated. The Northwestern Pacific is located in the downwind area of East Asian dust and includes eutrophic regions (Yellow Sea, YS; East China Sea, ECS), high-nutrient low-chlorophyll waters (subarctic Northwestern Pacific, SNWP) and low-nutrient low-chlorophyll waters (Northwestern Pacific subtropical gyre, NWPSG), which is an ideal region to explore the spatial heterogeneity of the dust fertilization effect. Here, the distribution and variation of dust deposition, high dust deposition events (HDDE) and Chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a, mg m -3 ) in the Northwestern Pacific during spring from 1998 to 2020 were investigated. The differences in the response of phytoplankton biomass (using Chl-a as a proxy) to HDDE in the YS, the ECS, the SNWP and the NWPSG were explored. Our results indicated that a large amount of dust was deposited into the Northwest Pacific during spring, resulting in numerous HDDE. The HDDE could stimulate the increase of phytoplankton biomass in the whole area of the Northwestern Pacific during spring. The response probabilities of Chl-a to HDDE were most significant (~80%) in the SNWP and the duration of response was the longest, even lasting for up to 40 days. While the response probabilities of Chl-a to HDDE were lowest in the YS and ECS (~65%), increasing from north to south, and most of the responses were less than 20 days. The response of Chl-a to HDDE was also detected in NWPSG, confirming the dust fertilization effect in oligotrophic waters, with response probabilities of 70% and duration less than 30 days. Overall, this study provides a more comprehensive understanding of the differences of phytoplankton response to dust deposition in varying trophic regions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no known competing financial and personal relationships with other people or organization that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Household dust has been considered as an important pathway for children's environmental Pb exposure. Shanghai was one of the first cities in China that removed Pb from petrol and has been shown in our previous study to have the lowest childhood blood Pb levels in China. This study therefore examines household dust Pb (Pb HD ) in Shanghai in order to determine the extent and exposure risks of Pb HD . Household vacuum cleaner dust samples (n = 40) were collected and analyzed for total Pb concentration, bio-accessible Pb concentration and Pb isotopic compositions (Pb IC ). The mean concentration of Pb HD was 195 mg/kg, which is between 7 and 10 times the Pb concentration of background soil samples from Shanghai. Among the investigated homes, those living in neighborhoods with lower average estate prices have higher dust Pb exposure risks for children. Bio-accessibility of Pb in household dust ranged between 53 and 91%, with a mean value of 71%. Analysis of Pb IC of household dust samples ( 208 Pb/ 206 Pb: 2.1096 ± 0.0054; 207 Pb/ 206 Pb: 0.8648 ± 0.0025) are a close match to Pb IC of coal combustion and solid waste incineration and fit well with those of outdoor air Pb IC and urban surface soil Pb IC of Shanghai. The study shows that children living in Shanghai are subject to Pb HD exposure, with children living in the homes with lower average price having increased susceptibility to Pb HD exposure. The data indicate that Pb HD is derived primarily from contemporary coal combustion and solid waste incineration rather than common legacy Pb sources (e.g., Pb petrol and paint). Practices including closing doors and windows on days with poor air quality or high wind and preventing shoe wearing inside homes will aid in minimizing outdoor surface soil and ambient particulate intrusion indoors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Dust storms are a common phenomenon in arid and semi-arid regions in West Asia, which has led to high levels of PM 10 in local and remote area. The Yazd city in Iran with a high PM 10 level located downstream of dust sources in the Middle East and Central Asia. In this study, based on meteorological and PM 10 monitoring data, backward trajectory modeling of air parcels related to dust events at Yazd station was performed using the HYSPLIT model in 2012-2019. The trajectory cluster analysis was used to identify the main dust transport pathways and wind systems. Three methods of Cross-referencing Backward Trajectory (CBT), Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) and Concentration Weighted Trajectory (CWT) were used to identify the most critical dust sources. Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods were also used to integrate the results. Nine dust sources affecting central Iran were determined, and six criteria from different aspects were considered. To prioritize the dust sources affecting central Iran from four new MCDM methods, including WASPAS, EDAS, ARAS and TOPSIS were used. The results showed that the Levar wind system (51%), the Shamal wind system (32%) and the Prefrontal wind system (18%) were the most important wind systems to cause dust events in central Iran. The MCDM approach to identify dust sources also showed that Dasht-e-Kavir in central Iran was the most critical dust source. The results also showed that in hot seasons (spring and summer), local and Central Asia dust sources and cold seasons (autumn and winter), Middle East dust sources have the greatest impact on dust events in central Iran. Also, a comparison of common receptor-based methods for identifying dust sources showed that CBT, CWT and PSCF were the most appropriate methods for identifying dust sources, respectively., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Potentially toxic element (PTE) pollution is widespread in road dust across China, and the effects of PTEs in road dust on health cannot be ignored. In this study, the concentrations of six PTEs (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni) in 4336 road dust samples from 58 cities in 31 provincial regions of China taken after 2000 were obtained from the literatures. Based on these data, the spatial distribution, pollution sources, and ecological and human health risks of PTEs in road dust were comprehensively assessed and the main pollution factors and areas of high risk were identified. The results revealed that PTE levels are generally higher in eastern cities than western cities in China. The key driving factors are socioeconomic factors, including those related to transportation, industry, and population, for which the contribution rates are 57.80%, 55.39% and 37.19%, respectively. PTEs in the road dust with high ecological risks are mainly distributed in the southeastern coastal areas and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. No obvious noncarcinogenic risk was found for PTEs in road dust, but Cd and Pb may have potential noncarcinogenic risk, mainly distributed in cities in western China. Therefore, regions and pollution sources contributing to Pb and Cd levels should be monitored. The control of PTE pollution in China is a priority for ecological and environmental protection., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The share of non-exhaust particles, including tire wear particles (TWP), within the airborne dust and particularly within PM10 has increased in recent years due to a significant reduction of other particles including exhaust road traffic emissions. However, the quantification of TWP is a demanding task due to the non-specificity of tracers, and the fact that they are commonly contained in analytically challenging low concentrations (e.g. Zn, styrene, 1,3-butadiene, vinylcyclohexene). This difficulty is amplified by the chemical and morpho-textural heterogeneity of TWP resulting from the interaction between the tires and the road surface. In contrast to bulk techniques, automated single particle SEM/EDX analysis can benefit from the ubiquitous heterogeneity of environmental TWP as a diagnostic criterion for their identification and quantification. For this purpose, we follow a machine-learning (ML) approach that makes use of an extensive number (67) of morphological, textural (backscatter-signal based) and chemical descriptors to differentiate environmental particles into the following classes: TWP, metals, minerals and biogenic/organic. We present a ML-based model developed to classify airborne samples (trained by >100,000 environmental particles including 6841 TWP), and its application within a one-year monitoring campaign at two Swiss sites. In this study, the mass concentrations of TWP in the airborne fractions PM80-10, PM10-2.5 and PM2.5-1 were determined. Furthermore, the particle size distribution and shape characteristics of 5621 TWP were evaluated. A cut through a TWP by means of FIB-SEM evidences that the mineral and metal particles typically found in TWP are not only present on the particle surface but also throughout the complete TWP volume. At the urban background site, the annual average mass fraction of TWP and micro-rubber in PM10 was 1.8% (0.28 μg/m 3 ) and 0.9%, respectively. At the urban kerbside site, the corresponding values were 6 times higher amounting to 10.5% (2.24 μg/m 3 ) for TWP, and 5.0% for micro-rubber., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study evaluates geochemical and oxidative potential (OP) properties of the respirable (finer than 4 μm) fractions of 22 powdered coal samples from channel profiles (CP 4 ) in Chinese mined coals. The CP 4 fractions extracted from milled samples of 22 different coals were mineralogically and geochemically analysed and the relationships with the OP evaluated. The evaluation between CP 4 /CP demonstrated that CP 4 increased concentrations of anatase, Cs, W, Zn and Zr, whereas sulphates, Fe, S, Mo, Mn, Hf and Ge decreased their CP 4 concentrations. OP results from ascorbic acid (AA), glutathione (GSH) and dithiothreitol (DTT) tests evidenced a clear link between specific inorganic components of CP 4 with OP AA and the organic fraction of OP GSH and OP DTT . Correlation analyses were performed for OP indicators and the geochemical patterns of CP 4 . These were compared with respirable dust samples from prior studies. They indicate that Fe (r = 0.83), pyrite (r = 0.66) and sulphate minerals (r = 0.42) (tracing acidic species from pyrite oxidation), followed by S (r = 0.50) and ash yield (r = 0.46), and, to a much lesser extent, Ti, anatase, U, Mo, V and Pb, are clearly linked with OP AA . Moreover, OP GSH correlation was identified by organic matter, as moisture (r = 0.73), Na (r = 0.56) and B (r = 0.51), and to a lesser extent by the coarse particle size, Ca and carbonate minerals. In addition, Mg (r = 0.70), B (r = 0.47), Na (r = 0.59), Mn, Ba, quartz, particle size and Sr regulate OP DTT correlations. These became more noticeable when the analysis was done for samples of the same type of coal rank, in this case, bituminous., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Crown Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The effectiveness of oil and gas produced water (OGPW) applied to unpaved roads to reduce particulate matter (PM 10 ) generation has not been well-characterized. Here we quantify the efficacy of OGPW compared to commercial and alternative byproducts as dust suppressants applied to unpaved roads and estimate efficacy of a dust suppressant extrapolated from both lab experiments and published data for OGPW across U.S. states. Both treated and untreated OGPW, simulated brines, and commercial dust suppressants were characterized by major and trace element composition and then applied to road aggregate in the laboratory. PM 10 generation after treatment was quantified, both before and after simulated rain events to assess the need for multiple applications. We found the dust suppression efficacy of all OGPW to be less than commercial products and alternative byproducts such as waste soybean oil. In addition, OGPW lost efficacy following simulated rain events, which would require repeated applications of OGPW to maintain dust suppression. The dust suppression efficacy of OGPW can be estimated based on two chemical measurements, the sodium absorption ratio (SAR) and the total dissolved solids (TDS). OGPW with the lowest SAR and highest TDS performed best as dust suppressants while high SAR and lower TDS led to greater dust generation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)