Plasma Damage Control: From Biomolecules to Cells and Skin.

The antibacterial and cell-proliferative character of atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) helps in the healing process of chronic wounds. However, control of the plasma-biological target interface remains an open issue. High vacuum ultraviolet/ultraviolet (VUV/UV) radiation and RONS flux from plasma may cause damage of a treated tissue; therefore, controlled interaction is essential. VUV/UV emission from argon APPJs and radiation control with aerosol injection in plasma effluent is the focus of this research. The aerosol effect on radiation is studied by a fluorescent target capable of resolving the plasma oxidation footprint. In addition, DNA damage is evaluated by plasmid DNA radiation assay and cell proliferation assay to assess safety aspects of the plasma jet, the effect of VUV/UV radiation, and its control with aerosol injection. Inevitable emission of VUV/UV radiation from plasmas during treatment is demonstrated in this work. Plasma has no antiproliferative effect on fibroblasts in short treatments (t < 60 s), while long exposure has a cytotoxic effect, resulting in decreased cell survival. Radiation has no effect on cell survival in the medium due to absorption. However, a strong cytotoxic effect on the attached fibroblasts without the medium is apparent. VUV/UV radiation contributes 70% of the integral plasma effect in induction of single- and double-strand DNA breaks and cytotoxicity of the attached cells without the medium. Survival of the attached cells increases by 10% when aerosol is introduced between plasma and the cells. Injection of aerosol in the plasma effluent can help to control the plasma-cell/tissue interaction. Aerosol droplets in the effluent partially absorb UV emission from the plasma, limiting photon flux in the direction of the biological target. Herein, cold and safe plasma-aerosol treatment and a safe operational mode of treatment are demonstrated in a murine model.

Estimated Inactivation of Coronaviruses by Solar Radiation With Special Reference to COVID-19.

Using a model developed for estimating solar inactivation of viruses of biodefense concerns, we calculated the expected inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 virus, cause of COVID-19 pandemic, by artificial UVC and by solar ultraviolet radiation in several cities of the world during different times of the year. The UV sensitivity estimated here for SARS-CoV-2 is compared with those reported for other ssRNA viruses, including influenza A virus. The results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 aerosolized from infected patients and deposited on surfaces could remain infectious outdoors for considerable time during the winter in many temperate-zone cities, with continued risk for re-aerosolization and human infection. Conversely, the presented data indicate that SARS-CoV-2 should be inactivated relatively fast (faster than influenza A) during summer in many populous cities of the world, indicating that sunlight should have a role in the occurrence, spread rate and duration of coronavirus pandemics.

Microwave-induced release and degradation of airborne antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from Escherichia coli bioaerosol based on microwave absorbing material.

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been detected in the atmosphere. Airborne ARGs transmission threatens human health. In the present study, we investigated the release and degradation of airborne ARGs from Escherichia coli bioaerosol through microwave (MW) irradiation. In this study, a new MW absorbing material (Fe3O4@SiC ceramic foam) that contributed to its stronger MW absorption is presented. When the MW input energy density was 7.4 × 103 kJ/m3, the concentration of airborne Escherichia coli decreased by 4.4 log. Different DNA forms were found in the air because MW irradiation ruptured cell membranes. The bound particles provide more protection for bound DNA in the degradation process than free DNA. After the self-degradation of the released airborne free ARGs, some of them would remain and continue to spread in the atmosphere. The released airborne free ARGs cannot be ignored. Total ARGs concentrations decrease rapidly with increased temperature. The inactivation rate constant of ARGs through MW irradiation is higher than that through the Fenton and UV, however, the energy efficiency per order of MW irradiation is lower. Therefore, MW irradiation with Fe3O4@SiC ceramic foam could efficiently degrade the distribution of ARGs in the atmosphere.

Microwave-induced release and degradation of airborne endotoxins from Escherichia coli bioaerosol.

Endotoxins are widely distributed toxins in the outer cell-wall membranes of Gram-negative bacteria and other microorganisms. Chronic exposure to endotoxins can induce and exacerbate airway symptoms and diseases. However, the release and degradation of airborne endotoxins from bioaerosol by microwave (MW) irradiation have not yet been reported. This study investigated the distribution and fate of airborne endotoxins during MW irradiation process, as well as the kinetics and thermodynamics of the degradation of airborne endotoxins. Results showed that MW irradiation induced cell lysis, thus considerably increasing the proportion of cells with ruptured membranes. Furthermore, MW irradiation changed the distribution of airborne endotoxins, sharply decreased the concentration of bound endotoxins from 230 EU/m3 to 68 EU/m3, and increased the concentration of free endotoxins from 21 EU/m3 to 122 EU/m3. These results indicated that MW irradiation released endotoxins from cells into the atmosphere. MW irradiation likely degraded endotoxins by exerting thermal effects, which achieved a total endotoxin removal efficiency of as high as 35%. Endotoxin degradation was a first-order reaction and required the activation energy of 26.3 kJ/mol.

Bioprocess of Kosa bioaerosols: effect of ultraviolet radiation on airborne bacteria within Kosa (Asian dust).

Kosa (Asian dust) is a well-known weather phenomenon in which aerosols are carried by the westerly winds from inland China to East Asia. Recently, the frequency of this phenomenon and the extent of damage caused have been increasing. The airborne bacteria within Kosa are called Kosa bioaerosols. Kosa bioaerosols have affected ecosystems, human health and agricultural productivity in downwind areas. In order to develop a new and useful bacterial source and to identify the source region of Kosa bioaerosols, sampling, isolation, identification, measurement of ultraviolet (UV) radiation tolerance and experimental simulation of UV radiation conditions were performed during Kosa bioaerosol transportation. We sampled these bioaerosols using a Cessna 404 airplane and a bioaerosol sampler at an altitude of approximately 2900 m over the Noto Peninsula on March 27, 2010. The bioaerosol particles were isolated and identified as Bacillus sp. BASZHR 1001. The results of the UV irradiation experiment showed that the UV radiation tolerance of Kosa bioaerosol bacteria was very high compared with that of a soil bacterium. Moreover, the UV radiation tolerance of Kosa bioaerosol spores was higher than that of soil bacterial spores. This suggested that Kosa bioaerosols are transported across the atmosphere as living spores. Similarly, by the experimental simulation of UV radiation conditions, the limited source region of this Kosa bioaerosol was found to be southern Russia and there was a possibility of transport from the Kosa source area.

Photoassisted one-step aerosol fabrication of zwitterionic chitosan nanoparticles.

Zwitterionic chitosan nanoparticles (ZCNPs) were conveniently obtained by a one-step aerosol method, and their potential for the production of biocompatible materials was investigated. A low-molecular-weight chitosan was conjugated with succinic anhydride to produce zwitterionic chitosan (ZC). Collison-atomized ZC droplets were simultaneously UV-irradiated and dried in a tube furnace in a one-step aerosol process to produce particles. The observed cytotoxicities of ZCNPs (85 ± 3.9% cell viability) were similar to unmodified chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs, 88 ± 6.6%) and UV-irradiated ZCNPs (83 ± 3.3%). The aerosol process described in this work allowed facile production and modification of CNPs, which could then be employed for biomedical purposes.

Boundary layer aerosol characteristics at Mahabubnagar during CAIPEEX-IGOC: modeling the optical and radiative properties.

An Integrated Ground Observational Campaign (IGOC) was conducted at Mahabubnagar--a tropical rural station in the southern peninsular India, under the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) program during the period from July to November 2011. Measured chemical composition and carbonaceous aerosols from PM2.5 samples were used in an aerosol optical model to deduce crucial aerosol optical properties, which were then used in a radiative transfer model for radiative forcing estimations. The model derived aerosol optical depth (AOD at 500 nm), varied from 0.13 to 0.76 (mean of 0.40 ± 0.18) whereas Ångström exponent (AE) between 0.10 and 0.65 (mean of 0.33 ± 0.17) suggests relative dominance of coarse particles over the station. On the other hand, single scattering albedo (SSA at 500 nm) was found to vary from 0.78 to 0.92 (mean of 0.87 ± 0.04) during the measurement period. The magnitude of absorption Ångström exponent (AAE), varied from 0.83 to 1.33 (mean of 1.10 ± 0.15), suggests mixed type aerosols over the station. Aerosol direct radiative forcing was estimated and found to vary from -8.9 to -49.3 W m(-2) (mean of -27.4 ± 11.8 W m(-2)) at the surface and +9.7 to +44.5 W m(-2) (mean of +21.3 ± 9.4 W m(-2)) in the atmosphere during the course of measurements. The atmospheric forcing was observed to be ~30% higher during October (+ 29 ± 9 W m(-2)) as compared to August (+21 ± 7 W m(-2)) when the station is mostly influenced by continental polluted aerosols. The result suggests an additional atmospheric heating rate of 0.24 K day(-1) during October, which may be crucial for various boundary layer processes in favorable atmospheric conditions.

Optical manipulation of aerosol droplets using a holographic dual and single beam trap.

We present optical trapping and manipulation of pure water and salt water airborne droplets of various sizes ranging from sub-micrometers up to several tens of micrometers in a holographic dual and single beam trap. In the dual beam trap, successful fusion of droplets as well as precise delivery of many droplets and manipulation of multiple droplets are demonstrated. Furthermore, employing the transfer of the orbital angular momentum of light from Laguerre-Gaussian beams, we show that the water droplets orbit around the beam propagation axis and their tangential speed can be controlled by beam waist magnitude. We also demonstrate that sub-micrometer sized pure water droplets can be trapped and manipulated by a single beam trap with a relatively low numerical aperture. In this case, multiple stable trapping positions were observed, both theoretically and experimentally, which were due to the optical intensity oscillations in the focal region of the laser beam.

Modulated exponential films generated by surface acoustic waves and their role in liquid wicking and aerosolization at a pinned drop.

The exponentially decaying acoustic pressure of scattered surface acoustic waves (SAWs) at the contact line of a liquid film pinned to filter paper is shown to sustain a high curvature conic tip with micron-sized modulations whose dimension grows exponentially from the tip. The large negative capillary pressure in the film, necessary for offsetting the large positive acoustic pressure at the contact line, also creates significant negative hydrodynamic pressure and robust wicking action through the paper. An asymptotic analysis of this intricate pressure matching between the quasistatic conic film and bulk drop shows that the necessary SAW power to pump liquid from the filter paper and aerosolize, expressed in terms of the acoustic pressure scaled by the drop capillary pressure, grows exponentially with respect to twice the acoustic decay constant multiplied by the drop length, with a universal preexponential coefficient. Global rapid aerosolization occurs at a SAW power twice as high, beyond which the wicking rate saturates.

Balancing the risk of eye irritation from UV-C with infection from bioaerosols.

The very aspect (phototoxicity) that makes short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV) radiation an effective germicidal agent also is responsible for the unwanted side effects of erythema (reddening of the skin) and photokeratitis ("welder's flash" or "snow-blindness"). Overexposure to this short-wavelength UV radiation can produce these unwanted side effects from a very mild irritation of the skin and eyes to a rather painful case of photokeratitis. These effects are fortunately transient, as only superficial cells of the eye-the corneal epithelium-and the most superficial layer of the skin-the superficial epidermis-are significantly affected. Normal turnover of these cells soon erase the signs and symptoms of these effects. Radiant energy in the UV-C band has very shallow penetration depths which account for the very superficial nature of any injury to the skin and eyes from excessive exposure, minimum risk of delayed effects and at the same time the strong absorption by bioaerosols. Guidelines for human exposure to UV-C must be applied intelligently so as not to limit germicidal efficacy in upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.

A novel approach for enhancing metal ion separation using acoustic nebulisation.

A novel technique for anionic surfactant assisted separation and preconcentration of metal cations was developed using ultrasound induced nebulization at MHz frequency. The ions of copper, zinc, cadmium, and calcium were used as model analytes. Analysis of the aerosol using flame atomic absorption spectrometry showed enrichment factors for the metal ions studied between 5 and 8, when dilute solutions containing sodium dodecylsulfate and the metal ions were nebulized. The mechanism of metal ion enrichment was explained based on surfactant adsorption and the droplet model for aerosol droplets. It was demonstrated that further increase in the enrichment factor could be achieved by increasing the ultrasound frequency, thus producing smaller droplets.

Aerosol-assisted synthesis of nanoporous silica/titania nanoparticles composites and investigation of their photocatalytic properties.

Nanoporous silica/titania nanoparticles composites with relatively large TiO2 content are successfully synthesized by aerosol-assisted co-assembly. By the hybridization of titania with nanoporous silica having high surface area, both the adsorption capability and the reaction rates for the photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue (MB) are dramatically improved in comparison with unmodified titania nanoparticles without nanoporous silica. Through the quantitative evaluation of the amount of adsorbed and photo-decomposed organic molecule throughout the reaction process, the role of nanoporous silica layers on titania surface is clarified. Rational design of future hybrid photocatalyst with precisely controlled nanostructure will be possible by optimization of our synthetic procedure and careful study of the adsorption and photocatalytic properties.

Ultraviolet irradiation and the mechanisms underlying its inactivation of infectious agents.

We review the principles of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, the inactivation of infectious agents by UV, and current applications for the control of microorganisms. In particular, wavelengths between 200 and 280 nm (germicidal UV) affect the double-bond stability of adjacent carbon atoms in molecules including pyrimidines, purines and flavin. Thus, UV inactivation of microorganisms results from the formation of dimers in RNA (uracil and cytosine) and DNA (thymine and cytosine). The classic application of UV irradiation is the inactivation of microorganisms in biological safety cabinets. In the food-processing industry, germicidal UV irradiation has shown potential for the surface disinfection of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables. UV treatment of water (potable and wastewater) is increasingly common because the process is effective against a wide range of microorganisms, overdose is not possible, chemical residues or by-products are avoided, and water quality is unaffected. UV has been used to reduce the concentration of airborne microorganisms in limited studies, but the technology will require further development if it is to gain wider application. For bioaerosols, the primary technical challenge is delivery of sufficient UV irradiation to large volumes of air, but the absence of UV inactivation constants for airborne pathogens under a range of environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity) further compounds the problem.

Evaluación de bioaerosoles en ambientes de centros de salud de la ciudad de Valencia, Venezuela / Evaluation of bioaerosoles in health center environments in the city of Valencia, Venezuela

Los establecimientos de atención en salud son entornos donde se congregan pacientes que en menor o mayor grado presentan compromisos inmunológicos. En este contexto, el ambiente hospitalario resulta un espacio donde podrían adquirir infecciones nosocomiales con el consiguiente deterioro del cuadro clínico preexistente. En el presente estudio se realizaron evaluaciones en ambientes hospitalarios de centros de salud ubicados en la ciudad de Valencia, Venezuela, tomando en cuenta áreas críticas como quirófanos. Para la captación de las muestras se tomó en cuenta las metodologías establecidas en las Normas Técnicas Españolas. La captación del aire sobre los medios de cultivo Nutritivoy Sabouraud se incubaron a 37°C de 24-72 horas, para determinar UFC/m3 de aire. Conjuntamente se midió la temperatura y humedad relativa. La identificación microbiológica se realizó utilizando galerias bioquímicas automatizadas (API). De los 6 centros hospitalarios evaluados, 5 quirófanos presentaron más de 10 UFC/m3 de aerobios mesófilos y más de 20 UFC/m3 de población fúngica, cuyo rango debería ser menor a 10UFC/m3. Los microorganismos identificados con mayor frecuencia fueron: Staphylococcus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus spp., Acinetobacter lowfii, Aspergillus nidulans, A. terreus y Geotrichum candidum. Las medidas de temperatura fueron mayores a 20°C y la humedad relativa mayor a 45%, siendo el rango establecido por la NTP 409 para la temperatura entre 15-18°C, y 50-70% en cuanto a la humedad relativa. Se infiere que existe poco compromiso en aplicar las medidas correctas para cumplir a cabalidad con las normas de manipulación de pacientes en áreas críticas, lo que propicia un entorno favorable para el desarrollo microbiano, además de factores como temperatura, humedad relativa, sistemas de climatización, que no cumplen con lo indicado según las normas técnicas Internacionales

Health center facilities are areas where patients who have a greater or lesser degree of immunological compromise congregate. In this context, the hospital environment is a space where nosocomial diseases could be acquired causing deterioration of the preexistent clinical condition. This study carried out evaluations in hospital environments at health centers in the city of Valencia, Venezuela, taking into account critical areas such as operating theatres. For sample collection, methodologies established by the Spanish Technical Standards were taken into account. The air samples taken over Nutritivo and Sabouraud cultivation media were incubated at 37°C for 24-72 hours, to determine the UFC/m3 for the air. Following a 24-hour incubation at 37°C, the bacterial charges (UFC/m3) were determined. Additionally, temperature and relative humidity were measured. Taxonomical identification was achieved through a computerized biochemical test (API galleries). Five out of the six health centers evidenced more than 10UFC/m3 and 20 UFC/m3 for the bacterial and fungal charges, respectively. These values are higher than those allowed by official legislation. The most frequently detected microorganisms were Staphylococcus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus spp., Acinetobacter lowfii, Aspergillus nidulans, A. terreus and Geotrichum candidum. The temperature and relative humidity were always higher than 20°C and 45%, whereas ranges established by the NTP 409 norm are 15-18ºC and 50-70%, respectively. It seems there is little commitment to applying correct measures to comply fully with standards for patient handling in critical areas, favoring an environment conducive to microbial development, as well as factors such as temperature, relative humidity and air conditioning systems, which do not comply with what is indicated in international technical standards

Photocatalytic treatment of bioaerosols: impact of the reactor design.

Comparing the UV-A photocatalytic treatment of bioaerosols contaminated with different airborne microorganisms such as L. pneumophila bacteria, T2 bacteriophage viruses and B. atrophaeus bacterial spores, pointed out a decontamination sensitivity following the bacteria > virus > bacterial spore ranking order, differing from that obtained for liquid-phase or surface UV-A photocatalytic disinfection. First-principles CFD investigation applied to a model annular photoreactor evidenced that larger the microorganism size, higher the hit probability with the photocatalytic surfaces. Applied to a commercial photocatalytic purifier case-study, the CFD calculations showed that the performances of the studied purifier could strongly benefit from rational reactor design engineering. The results obtained highlighted the required necessity to specifically investigate the removal of airborne microorganisms in terms of reactor design, and not to simply transpose the results obtained from studies performed toward chemical pollutants, especially for a successful commercial implementation of air decontamination photoreactors. This illustrated the importance of the aerodynamics in air decontamination, directly resulting from the microorganism morphology.

DRIFTS studies on the photodegradation of tannic acid as a model for HULIS in atmospheric aerosols.

Humic like substances (HULIS) are important components of atmospheric aerosols, yet little is known about their photochemical transformation and the role of adsorbed water in this photochemistry. We report herein in situ and surface-sensitive spectroscopic studies on (1) the photodegradation of solid tannic acid, (2) structure of adsorbed water before and after photodegradation, and (3) the change in the hydrophilicity of tannic acid as a result of this photochemistry. Tannic acid (TA) was chosen as a synthetic proxy for HULIS because it has a defined molecular structure. Photochemical studies were conducted using diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) as a function of time (3 h), relative humidity (5-30%) and total irradiance (7, 20, 290 W m(-2) at 555 nm). Water adsorption isotherm measurements were recorded before and after photodegradation, which provided information on the structure of interfacial water and the thermodynamics of adsorption. The structure of water adsorbed on TA resembles that of water at the interface with polar organic solvents. Difference spectral data collected during irradiation shows loss features in the 1700-1000 cm(-1) range and growth in carbonyl features that are blue shifted relative to the starting material, suggesting oxidative photodegradation of TA and formation of aryl aldehydes. Under our experimental conditions, we observed no enhancement in water uptake after photodegradation relative to that on unirradiated samples. The implications of our results to the understanding of heterogeneous photochemistry of HULIS and the role of adsorbed water in these reactions are discussed.

Photoenhanced ozone loss on solid pyrene films.

This work presents the results of two complementary studies of the heterogeneous reaction of gas-phase ozone with solid pyrene films. In the first study, ozone uptake by the pyrene film was determined using a coated-wall flow tube system. In the second, pyrene loss within the film upon exposure to ozone was monitored using a laser-induced fluorescence technique. The dependence of the reactive loss rate on ozone concentration observed in both methods suggests that the reaction proceeds via a Langmuir-Hinshelwood-type surface mechanism. At a mixing ratio of 50 ppb, the steady-state reactive uptake coefficient of ozone by pyrene films increased from 5.0x10(-6) in the dark to 3.7x10(-5) upon exposure to near-UV radiation (300-420 nm). The uptake coefficient increased linearly as a function of UV-A spectral irradiance and decreased markedly with increasing relative humidity. The loss of surface pyrene upon exposure to ozone also displayed a light enhancement: analysis of Langmuir-Hinshelwood plots for the light and dark reactions revealed a small increase in the two-dimensional reaction rate in the presence of light (lambda>or=295 nm). This modest enhancement, however, was less significant than the corresponding enhancement in the loss of gas-phase ozone. In order to explain these observations, we present an integrated mechanism whereby the light-enhanced ozone uptake arises from the reaction of ozone with O2(1Sigmag+) formed via energy transfer from excited-state pyrene and the enhanced pyrene loss occurs via the formation of a charge-transfer complex between excited-state pyrene and adsorbed ozone. The disparity between surface- and gas-phase results underscores the important role that multifaceted strategies can play in elucidating the mechanisms of heterogeneous atmospheric reactions.

Treatment of fungal bioaerosols by a high-temperature, short-time process in a continuous-flow system.

Airborne fungi, termed fungal bioaerosols, have received attention due to the association with public health problems and the effects on living organisms in nature. There are growing concerns that fungal bioaerosols are relevant to the occurrence of allergies, opportunistic diseases in hospitals, and outbreaks of plant diseases. The search for ways of preventing and curing the harmful effects of fungal bioaerosols has created a high demand for the study and development of an efficient method of controlling bioaerosols. However, almost all modern microbiological studies and theories have focused on microorganisms in liquid and solid phases. We investigated the thermal heating effects on fungal bioaerosols in a continuous-flow environment. Although the thermal heating process has long been a traditional method of controlling microorganisms, the effect of a continuous high-temperature, short-time (HTST) process on airborne microorganisms has not been quantitatively investigated in terms of various aerosol properties. Our experimental results show that the geometric mean diameter of the tested fungal bioaerosols decreased when they were exposed to increases in the surrounding temperature. The HTST process produced a significant decline in the (1-->3)-beta-d-glucan concentration of fungal bioaerosols. More than 99% of the Aspergillus versicolor and Cladosporium cladosporioides bioaerosols lost their culturability in about 0.2 s when the surrounding temperature exceeded 350 degrees C and 400 degrees C, respectively. The instantaneous exposure to high temperature significantly changed the surface morphology of the fungal bioaerosols.

Kinetics and products of the gas-phase reactions of divinyl sulfoxide with OH and NO3 radicals and O3.

Using relative rate methods, rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of divinyl sulfoxide [CH 2CHS(O)CHCH 2; DVSO] with NO 3 radicals and O 3 have been measured at 296 +/- 2 K, and rate constants for the reaction with OH radicals have been measured over the temperature range of 277-349 K. Rate constants obtained for the NO 3 radical and O 3 reactions at 296 +/- 2 K were (6.1 +/- 1.4) x 10 (-16) and (4.3 +/- 1.0) x 10 (-19) cm (3) molecule (-1) s (-1), respectively. For the OH radical reaction, the temperature-dependent rate expression obtained was k = 4.17 x 10 (-12)e ((858 +/- 141)/ T ) cm (3) molecule (-1) s (-1) with a 298 K rate constant of (7.43 +/- 0.71) x 10 (-11) cm (3) molecule (-1) s (-1), where, in all cases, the errors are two standard deviations and do not include the uncertainties in the rate constants for the reference compounds. Divinyl sulfone was observed as a minor product of both the OH radical and NO 3 radical reactions at 296 +/- 2 K. Using in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, CO, CO 2, SO 2, HCHO, and divinyl sulfone were observed as products of the OH radical reaction, with molar formation yields of 35 +/- 11, 2.2 +/- 0.8, 33 +/- 4, 54 +/- 6, and 5.4 +/- 0.8%, respectively, in air. For the experimental conditions employed, aerosol formation from the OH radical-initiated reaction of DVSO in the presence of NO was minor, being approximately 1.5%. The data obtained here for DVSO are compared with literature data for the corresponding reactions of dimethyl sulfoxide.