Measuring short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Central New Jersey air using chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

Real-time measurements of short-chain (C < 8) per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were performed in Central New Jersey air using chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS). The CIMS was calibrated for C2-C6 perfluorinated carboxylic acids, and 4:2 and 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohols. Of these, only trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was detected in ambient air above instrumental detection limits. However, instrumental sensitivities (and thus ambient mixing ratios) were estimated for other detected PFAS including C3H2F6O and C6HF11O3. TFA mixing ratios reached up to 0.7 parts-per-trillion by volume (pptv). Estimated C3H2F6O and C6HF11O3 mixing ratios reached the single pptv level. These latter two formulas are consistent with hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), respectively, though they may potentially represent multiple isomers. Diel profiles of detected PFAS along with local meteorological data can provide information on potential local sources of these compounds. However, only limited discussion of potential sources was provided here given the sparse detection of these compounds above instrument detection limits. These results demonstrate the potential of online CIMS instrumentation for measuring certain PFAS in ambient outdoor air in real time at or below the pptv level. This technique also has potential for fenceline monitoring and other near-source applications.Implications: Online chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) has potential for fast, real-time measurements of certain airborne per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Three short-chain (C < 8) PFAS were detected by CIMS in Central New Jersey ambient air near or above the parts-per-trillion by volume (pptv) level. This technique also has potential for fenceline monitoring and other near-source applications for airborne PFAS.

Characterizing Volatile Emissions and Combustion Byproducts from Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Using Online Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) are used in firefighting applications and often contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can detrimentally impact environmental and biological health. Incineration is a potential disposal method for AFFFs, which may produce secondary PFAS and other air pollutants. We used online chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) to measure volatile PFAS emissions from incinerating AFFF concentrate solutions. We quantified perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) during the incineration of legacy and contemporary AFFFs. These included trifluoroacetic acid, which reached mg m-3 quantities in the incinerator exhaust. These PFCAs likely arose as products of incomplete combustion of AFFF fluorosurfactants with lower peak furnace temperatures yielding higher PFCA concentrations. We also detected other short-chain PFAS, and other novel chemical products in AFFF combustion emissions. The volatile headspace above AFFF solutions contained larger (C ≥ 8), less oxidized PFAS detected by CIMS. We identified neutral PFAS resembling fluorotelomer surfactants (e.g., fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaines and fluorotelomer thioether amido sulfonates) and fluorotelomer alcohols in contemporary AFFF headspaces. Directly comparing the distinct chemical spaces of AFFF volatile headspace and combustion byproducts as measured by CIMS provides insight toward the chemistry of PFAS during thermal treatment of AFFFs.

Tubing material considerably affects measurement delays of gas-phase oxygenated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental pollutants associated with negative health impacts. Assessments of tubing-related measurement bias for volatile PFAS are lacking, as gas-wall interactions with tubing can delay quantification of gas-phase analytes. We use online iodide chemical ionization mass spectrometry measurements to characterize tubing delays for three gas-phase oxygenated PFAS - 4:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (4:2 FTOH), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA). Perfluoroalkoxy alkane and high-density polyethylene tubing yielded relatively short absorptive measurement delays, with no clear dependence on tubing temperature or sampled humidity. Sampling through stainless steel tubing led to prolonged measurement delays due to reversible adsorption of PFAS to the tubing surface, with strong dependence on tubing temperature and sample humidification. Silcosteel tubing afforded shorter measurement delays than stainless steel due to diminished surface adsorption of PFAS. Characterizing and mitigating these tubing delays is crucial for reliable quantification of airborne PFAS.Implications: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants. Many PFAS are sufficiently volatile to exist as airborne pollutants. Measurements and quantification of airborne PFAS can be biased from material-dependent gas-wall interactions with sampling inlet tubing. Thus, characterizing these gas-wall interactions are crucial for reliably investigating emissions, environmental transport, and fates of airborne PFAS.

Cytotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by atmospheric mono-nitrophenols in human lung cells.

Nitrophenols (NPs) are hazardous pollutants found in various environmental matrices, including ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5), agricultural residues, rainwater, wildfires, and industrial wastes. This study showed for the first time the effect of three pure nitrophenols and their mixture on human lung cells to provide basic understanding of the NP influence on cell elements and processes. We identified NPs in ambient PM2.5 and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles generated from the photooxidation of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the U.S. EPA smog chamber. We assessed the toxicity of identified NPs and their equimolar mixture in normal bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) and alveolar epithelial cancer (A549) lung cell lines. The inhibitory concentration-50 (IC50) values were highest and lowest in BEAS-2B cells treated with 2-nitrophenol (2NP) and 4-nitrophenol (4NP), respectively, at 24 h of exposure. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay showed that 4NP, the most abundant NP we identified in PM2.5, was the most cytotoxic NP examined in both cell lines. The annexin-V/fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) analysis showed that the populations of late apoptotic/necrotic BEAS-2B and A549 cells exposed to 3NP, 4NP, and NP equimolar mixture increased between 24 and 48 h. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) buildup led to cellular death post exposure to 3NP, 4NP and the NP mixtures, while 2NP induced the lowest ROS buildup. An increased mitochondrial ROS signal following NP exposure occurred only in BEAS-2B cells. The tetramethylrhodamine, methyl ester, perchlorate (TMRM) assay showed that exposed cells exhibited collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential. TMRM signals decreased significantly only in BEAS-2B cells, and most strongly with 4NP exposures. Our results suggest that acute atmospheric exposures to NPs may be toxic at high concentrations, but not at ambient PM2.5 concentrations. Further chronic studies with NP and NP-containing PM2.5 are warranted to assess their contribution to lung pathologies.

Quantifying wintertime O3 and NOx formation with relevance vector machines.

This paper uses a machine learning model called a relevance vector machine (RVM) to quantify ozone (O3) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) formation under wintertime conditions. Field study measurements were based on previous work described by Olson et al. (2019), where continuous measurements were reported from a wintertime field study in Utah. RVMs were formulated using either O3 or nitrogen dioxide (NO2) as the output variable. Values of the correlation coefficient (r2) between predicted and measured concentrations were 0.944 for O3 and 0.931 for NO2. RVMs are constructed from the observed measurements and result in sparse model formulations, meaning that only a subset of the data is used to approximate the entire dataset. For this study, the RVM with O3 as the output variable used only 20% of the measurement data while the RVM with NO2 used 16%. RVMs were then used as a predictive model to assess the importance of individual precursors. Using O3 as the output variable, increases in three species resulted in increased O3 concentrations: hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5), and molecular chlorine (Cl2). For the two termination products measured during the study, nitric acid (HNO3) and formic acid (CH2O2), no change in O3 concentration was observed. Using NO2 as the output variable, only increases in N2O5 resulted in increased NO2 concentrations.

Data mining approaches to understanding the formation of secondary organic aerosol.

This research used data mining approaches to better understand factors affecting the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Although numerous laboratory and computational studies have been completed on SOA formation, it is still challenging to determine factors that most influence SOA formation. Experimental data were based on previous work described by Offenberg et al. (2017), where volume concentrations of SOA were measured in 139 laboratory experiments involving the oxidation of single hydrocarbons under different operating conditions. Three different data mining methods were used, including nearest neighbor, decision tree, and pattern mining. Both decision tree and pattern mining approaches identified similar chemical and experimental conditions that were important to SOA formation. Among these important factors included the number of methyl groups for the SOA precursor, the number of rings for the SOA precursor, and the presence of dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5).

Relative contributions of selected multigeneration products to chamber SOA formed from photooxidation of a range (C10-C17) of n-alkanes under high NO x conditions.

A series of chamber experiments was conducted to investigate the composition of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) following oxidation of a range of parent n-alkanes (C10-C17) in the presence of NO x . The relative contribution of selected species representing first, second, and higher generation products to SOA mass was measured using a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer. Gas chromatography was also used for a limited set of amenable species. Relative contributions varied substantially across the range of investigated alkanes reflecting slight changes in SOA composition. The contribution of first-generation cyclic hemiacetal is minimal toward the small end of the investigated range and gradually increase with n-alkane size. The relative contribution of second generation and higher nitrate-containing species, in contrast, decrease with an increased alkane size. A similar trend is observed for relative contribution of organonitrates to SOA. Finally, SOA yield and composition are sensitive to water vapor concentrations. This sensitivity is limited to a narrow range (dry to ~15% RH) with little, if any, impact above 15% suggesting that this impact may be negligible under ambient conditions. The impact of water vapor also appears to decrease with increasing alkane carbon number.

Secondary Organic Aerosols from Aromatic Hydrocarbons and their Contribution to Fine Particulate Matter in Atlanta, Georgia.

Tracers of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) from thirteen aromatic hydrocarbons were quantified in laboratory smog chamber experiments. Class-specific SOA tracers emerged, including 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxo-pentatonic acid (DHOPA) from monoaromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalic acid from naphthalene and 1-methylnaphthalene, and methyl-nitrocatechol isomers from o,m,p-cresol oxidation. Organic carbon mass fractions (fSOC) for these and other tracers were determined and extend the SOA tracer method widely used to apportion biogenic SOC. The extended SOA tracer model was applied to evaluate the sources of SOC in Atlanta, GA during summer 2015 and winter 2016 after modifying the chamber-derived fSOC values to reflect SOA yields and local VOC levels (fSOC'). Monoaromatic, diaromatic, and cresol SOC contributed an average of 24%, 8%, and 0.12% of organic carbon (OC) mass during summer and 17%, 5%, and 0.27% during winter, respectively. Cresol SOC peaked during winter and was highly correlated with levoglucosan (r=0.83, p<0.001), consistent with it originating from biomass burning. Together, aromatic, biogenic, and biomass burning derived SOC accounted for an average of 77% and 28% of OC in summer and winter, respectively. The new understanding of SOA composition from aromatic VOCs advances the tracer-based method by including important precursors of SOC and enables a better understanding of the sources of atmospheric aerosol.

Time series analysis of wintertime O3 and NOx formation using vector autoregressions.

Concentrations of 11 species are reported from continuous measurements taken during a wintertime field study in Utah. Time series data for measured species generally displayed strong diurnal patterns. Six species show a diurnal pattern of daytime maximums (NO, NOy, O3, H2O2, CH2O2, and Cl2), while five species show a diurnal pattern of night time maximums (NO2, HONO, ClNO2, HNO3, and N2O5). Vector autoregression analyses were completed to better understand important species influencing the formation of O3 and NOx. For the species studied, r2 values of predicted versus measured concentrations ranged from 0.82-0.99. Fitting parameters for the autoregressive matrix, Π, indicated the importance of species precursors. In addition, values of fitting parameters for Π were relatively insensitive to data size, with variations generally <10%. Variable causation was quantified using the Granger causation method. Assuming O3 and NOx behave as chemical products, reactants (in order of importance) are as follows: H2O2, N2O5, HONO, and ClNO2.

Gas-Phase Detection of Fluorotelomer Alcohols and Other Oxygenated Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are incorporated into an ever-increasing number of modern products and inevitably enter the environment and ultimately human bodies. Herein, we show that chemical ionization mass spectrometry with iodide reagent ion chemistry is a useful technique for the detection of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and other oxygenated PFAS, including per- and polyfluoro carboxylic acids such as hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid. This technique offers direct, high-time resolution measurement capability with parts per trillion by volume (nanograms per cubic meter) gas-phase detection limits. Measurements were taken by direct volatilization of samples without prior processing, allowing for fast measurements and reduced sample treatment compared to established PFAS methods. We demonstrate the utility of this technique by sampling volatile and semivolatile PFAS from fluoro additives and fluoro products to quantify levels of FTOHs and identify additional fluorinated compounds for which standards were unavailable.

Light absorption of organic carbon and its sources at a southeastern U.S. location in summer.

Light-absorbing organic carbon (OC), also referred to as "brown carbon" (BrC), has been intensively investigated in atmospheres impacted by biomass burning. However, other BrC sources (e.g., secondary formation in the atmosphere) are rarely studied in ambient aerosols. In the current work, forty-five PM2.5 filter samples were collected in Research Triangle Park (RTP), NC, USA from June 1st to July 15th, 2013. The bulk carbonaceous components, including OC, elemental carbon (EC), water soluble OC (WSOC), and an array of organic molecular markers were measured; an ultraviolet/visible spectrometer was used to measure the light absorption of methanol extractable OC and WSOC. The average light absorption per OC and WSOC mass of PM2.5 samples in summer RTP are 0.36 ±â€¯0.16 m2 gC-1 and 0.29 ±â€¯0.13 m2 gC-1, respectively, lower than the ambient aerosol samples impacted by biomass burning and/or fossil fuel combustion (0.7-1.6 m2 gC-1) from other places. Less than 1% of the aqueous extracts absorption is attributed to the light-absorbing chromophores (nitroaromatic compounds) identified in this work. To identify the major sources of BrC absorption in RTP in the summer, Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) was applied to a dataset containing optical properties and chemical compositions of carbonaceous components in PM2.5. The results suggest that the formation of biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) containing organosulfates is an important BrC source, contributing up to half of the BrC absorption in RTP during the summertime.

Mutagenic atmospheres resulting from the photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbon and NOx mixtures.

Although many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are regulated to limit air pollution and the consequent health effects, the photooxidation products generally are not. Thus, we examined the mutagenicity in Salmonella TA100 of photochemical atmospheres generated in a steady-state atmospheric simulation chamber by irradiating mixtures of single aromatic VOCs, NOx, and ammonium sulfate seed aerosol in air. The 10 VOCs examined were benzene; toluene; ethylbenzene; o-, m-, and p-xylene; 1,2,4- and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene; m-cresol; and naphthalene. Salmonella were exposed at the air-agar interface to the generated atmospheres for 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 h. Dark-control exposures produced non-mutagenic atmospheres, illustrating that the gas-phase precursor VOCs were not mutagenic at the concentrations tested. Under irradiation, all but m-cresol and naphthalene produced mutagenic atmospheres, with potencies ranging from 2.0 (p-xylene) to 10.4 (ethylbenzene) revertants m3 mgC-1 h-1. The mutagenicity was due exclusively to direct-acting late-generation products of the photooxidation reactions. Gas-phase chemical analysis showed that a number of oxidized organic chemical species enhanced during the irradiated exposure experiments correlated (r ≥ 0.81) with the mutagenic potencies of the atmospheres. Molecular formulas assigned to these species indicated that they likely contained peroxy acid, aldehyde, alcohol, and other functionalities.

Characterization of aerosol nitroaromatic compounds: Validation of an experimental method.

The analytical capabilities associated with the use of silylation reactions have been extended to a new class of organic molecules, nitroaromatic compounds (NACs). These compounds are a possible contributor to urban particulate matter of secondary origin which would make them important analytes due to their (1) detrimental health effects, (2) potential to affect aerosol optical properties, and (3) and usefulness for identifying PM2.5 from biomass burning. The technique is based on derivatization of the parent NACs by using N,O-bis-(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoro acetamide, one of the most prevalent derivatization reagent for analyzing hydroxylated molecules, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using electron ionization (EI) and methane chemical ionization (CI). This method is evaluated for 32 NACs including nitrophenols, methyl-/methoxy-nitrophenols, nitrobenzoic acids, and nitrobenzyl alcohols. Electron ionization spectra were characterized by a high abundance of ions corresponding to [M+ ] or [M+  - 15]. Chemical ionization spectra exhibited high abundance for [M+  + 1], [M+  - 15], and [M+  + 29] ions. Both EI and CI spectra exhibit ions specific to nitro group(s) for [M+  - 31], [M+  - 45], and [M+  - 60]. The strong abundance observed for [M+ ] (EI), [M+  - 15] (EI/CI), or [M+  + 1] (CI) ions is consistent with the high charge stabilizing ability associated with aromatic compounds. The combination of EI and CI ionization offers strong capabilities for detection and identification of NACs. Spectra associated with NACs, containing hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms only, as silylated derivatives show fragment/adduct ions at either (a) odd or (b) even masses that indicate either (a) odd or (b) even number of nitro groups, respectively. Mass spectra associated with silylated NACs exhibited 3 distinct regions where characteristic fragmentation with a specific pattern associated with (1) ─OH and/or ─COOH groups, (2) ─NO2 group(s), and (3) benzene ring(s). These findings were confirmed with applications to chamber aerosol and ambient PM2.5 .

Monoterpenes are the largest source of summertime organic aerosol in the southeastern United States.

The chemical complexity of atmospheric organic aerosol (OA) has caused substantial uncertainties in understanding its origins and environmental impacts. Here, we provide constraints on OA origins through compositional characterization with molecular-level details. Our results suggest that secondary OA (SOA) from monoterpene oxidation accounts for approximately half of summertime fine OA in Centreville, AL, a forested area in the southeastern United States influenced by anthropogenic pollution. We find that different chemical processes involving nitrogen oxides, during days and nights, play a central role in determining the mass of monoterpene SOA produced. These findings elucidate the strong anthropogenic-biogenic interaction affecting ambient aerosol in the southeastern United States and point out the importance of reducing anthropogenic emissions, especially under a changing climate, where biogenic emissions will likely keep increasing.

Photochemical Conversion of Surrogate Emissions for Use in Toxicological Studies: Role of Particulate- and Gas-Phase Products.

The production of photochemical atmospheres under controlled conditions in an irradiation chamber permits the manipulation of parameters that influence the resulting air-pollutant chemistry and potential biological effects. To date, no studies have examined how contrasting atmospheres with a similar Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), but with differing ratios of criteria air pollutants, might differentially affect health end points. Here, we produced two atmospheres with similar AQHIs based on the final concentrations of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter (PM2.5). One simulated atmosphere (SA-PM) generated from irradiation of ∼23 ppmC gasoline, 5 ppmC α-pinene, 529 ppb NO, and 3 µg m-3 (NH4)2SO4 as a seed resulted in an average of 976 µg m-3 PM2.5, 326 ppb NO2, and 141 ppb O3 (AQHI 97.7). The other atmosphere (SA-O3) generated from 8 ppmC gasoline, 5 ppmC isoprene, 874 ppb NO, and 2 µg m-3 (NH4)2SO4 resulted in an average of 55 µg m-3 PM2.5, 643 ppb NO2, and 430 ppb O3 (AQHI of 99.8). Chemical speciation by gas chromatography showed that photo-oxidation degraded the organic precursors and promoted the de novo formation of secondary reaction products such as formaldehyde and acrolein. Further work in accompanying papers describe toxicological outcomes from the two distinct photochemical atmospheres.

Observations of sesquiterpenes and their oxidation products in central Amazonia during the wet and dry seasons.

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from the Amazon forest region represent the largest source of organic carbon emissions to the atmosphere globally. These BVOC emissions dominantly consist of volatile and intermediate-volatility terpenoid compounds that undergo chemical transformations in the atmosphere to form oxygenated condensable gases and secondary organic aerosol (SOA). We collected quartz filter samples with 12 h time resolution and performed hourly in situ measurements with a semi-volatile thermal desorption aerosol gas chromatograph (SV-TAG) at a rural site ("T3") located to the west of the urban center of Manaus, Brazil as part of the Green Ocean Amazon (GoAmazon2014/5) field campaign to measure intermediate-volatility and semi-volatile BVOCs and their oxidation products during the wet and dry seasons. We speciated and quantified 30 sesquiterpenes and 4 diterpenes with mean concentrations in the range 0.01-6.04 ngm-3 (1-670ppqv). We estimate that sesquiterpenes contribute approximately 14 and 12% to the total reactive loss of O3 via reaction with isoprene or terpenes during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. This is reduced from ~ 50-70 % for within-canopy reactive O3 loss attributed to the ozonolysis of highly reactive sesquiterpenes (e.g., ß-caryophyllene) that are reacted away before reaching our measurement site. We further identify a suite of their oxidation products in the gas and particle phases and explore their role in biogenic SOA formation in the central Amazon region. Synthesized authentic standards were also used to quantify gas- and particle-phase oxidation products derived from ß-caryophyllene. Using tracer-based scaling methods for these products, we roughly estimate that sesquiterpene oxidation contributes at least 0.4-5 % (median 1 %) of total submicron OA mass. However, this is likely a low-end estimate, as evidence for additional unaccounted sesquiterpenes and their oxidation products clearly exists. By comparing our field data to laboratory-based sesquiterpene oxidation experiments we confirm that more than 40 additional observed compounds produced through sesquiterpene oxidation are present in Amazonian SOA, warranting further efforts towards more complete quantification.

Trends in the oxidation and relative volatility of chamber-generated secondary organic aerosol.

The relationship between the oxidation state and relative volatility of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from the oxidation of a wide range of hydrocarbons is investigated using a fast-stepping, scanning thermodenuder interfaced with a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). SOA oxidation state varied widely across the investigated range of parent hydrocarbons but was relatively stable for replicate experiments using a single hydrocarbon precursor. On average, unit mass resolution indicators of SOA oxidation (e.g., AMS f 43 and f 44) are consistent with previously reported values. Linear regression of H:C vs. O:C obtained from parameterization of f 43 and f 44 and elemental analysis of high-resolution spectra in Van Krevelen space both yield a slope of ~-0.5 across different SOA types. A similar slope was obtained for a distinct subset of toluene/NO x reactions in which the integrated oxidant exposure was varied to alter oxidation. The relative volatility of different SOA types displays similar variability and is strongly correlated with SOA oxidation state ( OS - ). On average, relatively low oxidation and volatility were observed for aliphatic alkene (including terpenes) and n-alkane SOA while the opposite is true for mono- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon SOA. Effective enthalpy for total chamber aerosol obtained from volatility differential mobility analysis is also highly correlated with OS - c indicating a primary role for oxidation levels in determining the volatility of chamber SOA. Effective enthalpies for chamber SOA are substantially lower than those of neat organic standards but are on the order of those obtained for partially oligomerized glyoxal and methyl glyoxal.

Predicting Thermal Behavior of Secondary Organic Aerosols.

Volume concentrations of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) are measured in 139 steady-state, single precursor hydrocarbon oxidation experiments after passing through a temperature controlled inlet. The response to change in temperature is well predicted through a feedforward Artificial Neural Network. The most parsimonious model, as indicated by Akaike's Information Criterion, Corrected (AIC,C), utilizes 11 input variables, a single hidden layer of 4 tanh activation function nodes, and a single linear output function. This model predicts thermal behavior of single precursor aerosols to less than ±5%, which is within the measurement uncertainty, while limiting the problem of overfitting. Prediction of thermal behavior of SOA can be achieved by a concise number of descriptors of the precursor hydrocarbon including the number of internal and external double bonds, number of methyl- and ethyl- functional groups, molecular weight, and number of ring structures, in addition to the volume of SOA formed, and an indicator of which of four oxidant precursors was used to initiate reactions (NOx photo-oxidation, photolysis of H2O2, ozonolysis, or thermal decomposition of N2O5). Additional input variables, such as chamber volumetric residence time, relative humidity, initial concentration of oxides of nitrogen, reacted hydrocarbon concentration, and further descriptors of the precursor hydrocarbon, including carbon number, number of oxygen atoms, and number of aromatic ring structures, lead to over fit models, and are unnecessary for an efficient, accurate predictive model of thermal behavior of SOA. This work indicates that predictive statistical modeling methods may be complementary to descriptive techniques for use in parametrization of air quality models.

Assessing the impact of anthropogenic pollution on isoprene-derived secondary organic aerosol formation in PM2.5 collected from the Birmingham, Alabama, ground site during the 2013 Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study.

In the southeastern US, substantial emissions of isoprene from deciduous trees undergo atmospheric oxidation to form secondary organic aerosol (SOA) that contributes to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Laboratory studies have revealed that anthropogenic pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NO x ), and aerosol acidity, can enhance SOA formation from the hydroxyl radical (OH)-initiated oxidation of isoprene; however, the mechanisms by which specific pollutants enhance isoprene SOA in ambient PM2.5 remain unclear. As one aspect of an investigation to examine how anthropogenic pollutants influence isoprene-derived SOA formation, high-volume PM2.5 filter samples were collected at the Birmingham, Alabama (BHM), ground site during the 2013 Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS). Sample extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-electron ionization-mass spectrometry (GC/EI-MS) with prior trimethylsilylation and ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-HR-QTOFMS) to identify known isoprene SOA tracers. Tracers quantified using both surrogate and authentic standards were compared with collocated gas- and particle-phase data as well as meteorological data provided by the Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization (SEARCH) network to assess the impact of anthropogenic pollution on isoprene-derived SOA formation. Results of this study reveal that isoprene-derived SOA tracers contribute a substantial mass fraction of organic matter (OM) (~ 7 to ~ 20 %). Isoprene-derived SOA tracers correlated with sulfate ( SO42- ) (r2 = 0.34, n = 117) but not with NO x . Moderate correlations between methacrylic acid epoxide and hydroxymethyl-methyl-α-lactone (together abbreviated MAE/HMML)-derived SOA tracers with nitrate radical production (P[NO3]) (r2 = 0.57, n = 40) were observed during nighttime, suggesting a potential role of the NO3 radical in forming this SOA type. However, the nighttime correlation of these tracers with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) (r2 = 0.26, n = 40) was weaker. Ozone (O3) correlated strongly with MAE/HMML-derived tracers (r2 = 0.72, n = 30) and moderately with 2-methyltetrols (r2 = 0.34, n = 15) during daytime only, suggesting that a fraction of SOA formation could occur from isoprene ozonolysis in urban areas. No correlation was observed between aerosol pH and isoprene-derived SOA. Lack of correlation between aerosol acidity and isoprene-derived SOA is consistent with the observation that acidity is not a limiting factor for isoprene SOA formation at the BHM site as aerosols were acidic enough to promote multiphase chemistry of isoprene-derived epoxides throughout the duration of the study. All in all, these results confirm previous studies suggesting that anthropogenic pollutants enhance isoprene-derived SOA formation.

Constraints on primary and secondary particulate carbon sources using chemical tracer and 14C methods during CalNex-Bakersfield.

The present study investigates primary and secondary sources of organic carbon for Bakersfield, CA, USA as part of the 2010 CalNex study. The method used here involves integrated sampling that is designed to allow for detailed and specific chemical analysis of particulate matter (PM) in the Bakersfield airshed. To achieve this objective, filter samples were taken during thirty-four 23-hr periods between 19 May and 26 June 2010 and analyzed for organic tracers by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Contributions to organic carbon (OC) were determined by two organic tracer-based techniques: primary OC by chemical mass balance and secondary OC by a mass fraction method. Radiocarbon (14C) measurements of the total organic carbon were also made to determine the split between the modern and fossil carbon and thereby constrain unknown sources of OC not accounted for by either tracer-based attribution technique. From the analysis, OC contributions from four primary sources and four secondary sources were determined, which comprised three sources of modern carbon and five sources of fossil carbon. The major primary sources of OC were from vegetative detritus (9.8%), diesel (2.3%), gasoline (<1.0%), and lubricating oil impacted motor vehicle exhaust (30%); measured secondary sources resulted from isoprene (1.5%), α-pinene (<1.0%), toluene (<1.0%), and naphthalene (<1.0%, as an upper limit) contributions. The average observed organic carbon (OC) was 6.42 ± 2.33 µgC m-3. The 14C derived apportionment indicated that modern and fossil components were nearly equivalent on average; however, the fossil contribution ranged from 32-66% over the five week campaign. With the fossil primary and secondary sources aggregated, only 25% of the fossil organic carbon could not be attributed. Whereas, nearly 80% of the modern carbon could not be attributed to primary and secondary sources accessible to this analysis, which included tracers of biomass burning, vegetative detritus and secondary biogenic carbon. The results of the current study contributes source-based evaluation of the carbonaceous aerosol at CalNex Bakersfield.