Source apportionment of size-resolved atmospheric particulate matter and their oxidative potential in Córdoba, Argentina, and Leipzig, Germany (Acronym: Soporte)

• Applicant: Dr. Dominik van Pinxteren
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 493337202

Air pollution leads to adverse health impacts. In particular, exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is associated with toxic effects, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Several studies suggest that PM toxicity is caused by the oxidative potential (OP) of different chemical species present in PM. However, the specific chemical species, particle size they exist in, aerosol sources they originate from, and the seasonal variation of the OP are largely unknown and thus an important research issue in aerosol science. It is very likely that health effects depend on their size and chemical composition, and from the sources they are emitted from. Hence, in this work, the association between the size-resolved PM toxicity and PM constituents, seasonal variation and dominant sources will be addressed through a comprehensive PM chemical characterization and source apportionment as well as through estimations of the OP by toxicological assays applied to size-resolved PM samples. Two typical medium-sized urban agglomerations in Argentina (Córdoba) and Germany (Leipzig) are selected to perform this air quality study, considering them as models for medium-sized urban locations in South America and Europe. The objectives of this project are: i) to determine the concentration and chemical composition of different particle size fractions collected during summer and winter in Córdoba and Leipzig, ii) to estimate the contribution of PM sources in both cities, iii) to assess the size-resolved PM oxidative potential, and link it to the size-resolved PM chemical compositions and source contributions, and iv) to deduce suggestions for refined future PM mitigation strategies for South America and Europe. The results will allow for a better understanding of source contributions in both cities, assess PM toxicity to human health, and seasonal variation of this effect.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Argentina
• International Co-Applicants: Dr. Ana Carolina Amarillo; Dr. Hebe Alejandra Carreras