We are thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research article, titled “Inter-continental variability in the relationship of oxidative potential and cytotoxicity with PM2.5 mass” in the prestigious journal, Nature Communications. This groundbreaking study is a result of a collaborative effort involving researchers from multiple countries and conducted at the Aerosol Laboratory led by Vishal Verma at the University of Illinois.
The study was authored by Sudheer Salana, Haoran Yu, Zhuying Dai, P.S. Ganesh Subramanian, Joseph V. Puthussery, Yixiang Wang, Ajit Singh, Francis D. Pope, Manuel A. Leiva, Neeraj Rastogi, Sachchida Nand Tripathi, Rodney J. Weber, and Vishal Verma. These researchers hail from esteemed institutions, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Alberta, Washington University in St. Louis, Lehigh University, University of Birmingham, Universidad de Chile, Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, and Georgia Institute of Technology, from USA, UK, Canada, Chile and India.
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter. These tiny particles are a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Due to their small size, PM2.5 particles can penetrate deeply into the respiratory tract and reach the lungs, potentially causing serious health problems. Sources of PM2.5 include combustion processes (such as those from vehicle engines, industrial processes, and power plants), residential heating, wildfires, and certain chemical reactions in the atmosphere. PM2.5 is of particular concern in environmental health due to its ability to affect both human health and the environment significantly.
In this study, we evaluate this relationship using PM2.5 samples collected from 14 different sites across 4 different continents and using 5 different oxidative potential (OP) and cytotoxicity endpoints. Our results show that the relationship between PM2.5 mass and OP and cytotoxicity is largely non-linear due to significant differences in the intrinsic toxicity, resulting from a spatially heterogeneous chemical composition of PM. These results emphasize the need to develop localized globalized concentration-response functions incorporating other measures of PM2.5 properties, such as OP, to better predict the PM2.5-attributed health burdens.
Our study underscores the necessity of considering chemical composition in PM2.5 toxicity assessments to better protect public health. This research was made possible through the collaboration of esteemed institutions from around the world, showcasing the power of international cooperation in addressing critical environmental health issues. We invite researchers, policymakers, and the general public to explore our findings and consider the implications for environmental health policies.
Explore how our collaborative efforts are making strides in understanding and mitigating the health impacts of air pollution. Join us in our mission to foster healthier living environments through cutting-edge research and innovation.
Inter-continental Variability in the Relationship of Oxidative Potential and Cytotoxicity with PM2.5 Mass Journal Article Forthcoming
In: Nature Communications, Forthcoming, ISBN: 2041-1723.