Blog - LEIVALab

Dr. Manuel Leiva Appointed to the Operational Committee for Revising Chile’s Lead PM10 Air Quality Standards

25/03/2025Category: Public Policies

Dr. Manuel Leiva has been invited to join the operational committee charged with revising Chile’s lead PM10 air quality standards. This committee is dedicated to updating norms to protect public health from the chronic effects of lead exposure by ensuring regulations are scientifically robust and reflect international best practices. With his deep expertise in atmospheric sciences and redox chemistry, Dr. Leiva is set to bring innovative insights into the mechanisms by which airborne particulate matter induces oxidative stress. Public input is welcome until May 07 via consultasciudadanas.mma.gob.cl or through your regional SEREMI office.

Dr. Manuel Leiva’s Keynote on Atmospheric Pollution & Oxidative Potential at III Workshop on Chemistry and Biochemistry RedOx

25/03/2025Category: Talk and Keynotes

At the III Workshop on Chemistry and Biochemistry RedOx, held March 19–20, 2025, top experts gathered under the theme “Oxidants, Signaling, and Metabolic Control” at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. In my keynote, “Atmospheric Pollution and Oxidative Potential: More Than Meets the Eye,” I explored the intricate dynamics between airborne particulate matter and its ability to induce oxidative stress. I discussed the significance of the Anthropocene on air quality, introduced innovative measurement techniques like the DTT assay, and examined the profound health and economic impacts of air pollution. The workshop’s interdisciplinary approach highlighted the need to merge chemical insights with biological perspectives to effectively address modern environmental challenges.

Celebrating Our Team’s Progression: Loreto Villacura Wins ANID Scholarship for Internship at Sapienza University.

02/08/2024Category: Latest News

We are thrilled to celebrate Loreto Villacura’s achievement in securing an ANID scholarship for a prestigious internship at Sapienza University of Rome, one of the oldest and largest universities in Europe, renowned internationally. Under the guidance of Dr. Lorenzo Massimi, a respected member of the Italian Society of Aerosols, Loreto will engage in cutting-edge research at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Natural Sciences in the Department of Environmental Biology. The internship will focus on sampling atmospheric particles, analyzing their oxidative potential, and studying oxidative stress induced by these particles in model organisms.

Celebrating Our Team’s Progression: Javier Ramirez’s Advanced WRF Meteorology Learning Experience at the University of Zagreb.

02/08/2024Category: Latest News

Javier Ramirez, a Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry, successfully completed the “Advanced WRF Meteorology Learning Experience” at the University of Zagreb, under the supervision of Dr. Zvjezdana B. Klaić. His work focused on atmospheric air mass transport using the Weather Research and Forecasting model, contributing significantly to pollution studies in Chile. His achievements in this prestigious internship mark a crucial milestone in his academic and professional development in meteorology.

Inter-continental Variability in the Relationship of Oxidative Potential and Cytotoxicity with PM2.5 Mass

13/06/2024Category: Article

According to our new collaborative paper published in Nature Communications, a comprehensive global analysis of PM2.5 samples from different geographical locations provides a robust understanding of the variability in PM2.5 toxicity. Underscoring the importance of chemical composition in assessing health effects, the results show that the relationship between PM2.5 mass and its oxidative potential and cytotoxicity is non-linear. To more accurately predict health outcomes, the study argues for the development of localised concentration-response functions that incorporate oxidative potential.

Enhancing Air Quality: Our Laboratory’s Role in Shaping Public Policy

23/04/2024Category: Outreach and Public Support

Our laboratory has been instrumental in shaping public policy on air quality. We have been involved in key initiatives such as the public consultation on benzene standards and the development of primary national air quality standards for arsenic and lead bound to PM10. Dr. Manuel Leiva contributed to a Ministry of Environment workshop to develop a roadmap for national air quality standards aimed at improving public health and environmental protection. Through these efforts, we expect to have significantly influenced the regulatory framework and strengthened the basis for better managing air quality in the country.

New Study: Long-term assessment and acute air pollution events in a mega-industrial area in central Chile

25/03/2024Category: Article

A recent study exposes severe air pollution in Chile’s Quintero-Puchuncaví industrial zone, highlighting alarming levels of particulate matter and sulfur dioxide with significant exceedances annually. It reveals that pollution spikes during autumn and winter, suggesting that unmonitored pollutants and specific atmospheric conditions might be exacerbating health issues. The findings stress the need for deeper research and effective policy interventions to address these critical air quality problems.

Our team has been awarded a 2024 Fondecyt: “Oxidative Stress Induced by Airborne Fine Particulate Matter: A Chemical-Biological Approach in the Context of Urban Air Pollution in Chile”

26/02/2024Category: Project

Dr. Manuel Andrés Leiva Guzmán heads a 2024 Fondecyt project investigating the health impacts of airborne particulate matter in Chile. The study assesses how particulate matter causes oxidative stress by triggering reactive oxygen species, using “oxidative potential” to gauge toxicity. Through in vivo models, the project links chemical properties of particulate matter to biological effects, particularly under conditions that exceed air quality standards.

Enhancing Air Quality in Calama: Codelco’s Arsenic Study Advances with AsMETRIC’s Innovative Approach

10/12/2023Category: Consultancy

The “Codelco Arsenic Study Phase 2” focuses on analyzing arsenic and heavy metals in PM10 particles in Chile’s northern district, utilizing real-time monitoring near the Chuquicamata smelting area to assess environmental impacts on Calama’s air quality. AsMETRIC’s approach aims to develop a management model to control arsenic levels, enhance air quality, and set new standards in industrial emission control, promising significant environmental health benefits for Calama.

Oxidative Potential of Airborne Particulate Matter Research Trends, Challenges, and Future Perspectives – Insights from a Bibliometric Analysis and Scoping Review

10/04/2016Category: Article

The upcoming research article in “Antioxidants” journal delves into the oxidative potential (OP) of particulate matter (PM), highlighting its environmental and health impacts. A bibliometric analysis and scoping review of 569 articles identifies significant growth in OP research, especially from 2010. The study calls for enhanced interdisciplinary efforts and regulatory frameworks to better understand and manage PM’s effects on health and environment.

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