Environmental Particulate Air Pollution Exposure and the Oxidative Stress Responses: A Brief Review of the Impact on the Organism and Animal Models of Research

Particulate matter (PM) is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air, and it is one of the most harmful air pollutants. When inhaled, it affects the pulmonary system, cardiovascular systems, and other tissues. The size, composition, and deposition of PM, mainly related to fine and ultrafine particulate matter, are factors that determine the harmful effects of exposure to particles. Among the main effects is the inducer of ROS production, and consequently oxidative tissue damage in target organs and other responses, mediated by inflammatory cytokines and cellular stress response. The main pathway through which particles are potent mediators of oxidative stress is the damage caused to DNA and lipid molecules, whereas the pro-inflammatory response involves an immune response against PM, which in turn, it is related to cell stress responses observed by heat shock proteins (HSPs) expression and release. Thus, the ability of an organism to respond to PM inhalation requires anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and cellular stress defenses that can be impaired in susceptible subjects as people with chronic diseases as diabetes and obesity. In this chapter, we discuss the mechanistic aspects of PM effects on health and present some animal research models in particle inhalation studies.

Plant-microbe interactions in the phyllosphere: facing challenges of the anthropocene

Global change is a defining feature of the Anthropocene, the current human-dominated epoch, and poses imminent threats to ecosystem dynamics and services such as plant productivity, biodiversity, and environmental regulation. In this era, terrestrial ecosystems are experiencing perturbations linked to direct habitat modifications as well as indirect effects of global change on species distribution and extreme abiotic conditions. Microorganisms represent an important reservoir of biodiversity that can influence macro-organisms as they face habitat loss, rising atmospheric CO2 concentration, pollution, global warming, and increased frequency of drought. Plant-microbe interactions in the phyllosphere have been shown to support plant growth and increase host resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we review how plant-microbe interactions in the phyllosphere can influence host survival and fitness in the context of global change. We highlight evidence that plant-microbe interactions (1) improve urban pollution remediation through the degradation of pollutants such as ultrafine particulate matter, black carbon, and atmospheric hydrocarbons, (2) have contrasting impacts on plant species range shifts through the loss of symbionts or pathogens, and (3) drive plant host adaptation to drought and warming. Finally, we discuss how key community ecology processes could drive plant-microbe interactions facing challenges of the Anthropocene.

Ultrafine particulate matter in methane-air premixed flames with oxygen enrichment

A complementary computational and experimental study is carried out on the formation of ultrafine particulate matter in premixed laminar methane air flames. Specifically, soot formation is examined in premixed stretch-stabilized flames to observe soot inception and growth at relatively high flame temperatures common to oxygen enriched applications. Particle size distribution functions (PSDF) measured by mobility sizing show clear trends as the equivalence ratio increases from Φ = 2.2 to Φ = 2.4. For a given equivalence ratio, the measured distribution decreases in median mobility particle size as the maximum flame temperature increases from approximately 1950 K to 2050 K. The median mobility particle size is 20 nm or less for all flame conditions studied. The volume fraction decreases with increasing flame temperature for all equivalence ratio conditions. The Φ = 2.2 condition is close to the soot inception limit and both number density and volume fraction decrease monotonically with increasing flame temperature. The higher equivalence ratio conditions show a peak in number density at 2000 K which may indicate competing soot inception processes are optimized at this temperature. Flame structure computations are carried out using detailed gas-phase combustion chemistry of the Appel, Bockhorn, Frenklach (ABF) model to examine the connection of the observed PSDF to soot precursor chemistry. Agreement between measured and computed flame standoff distances indicates that the ABF model could provide a reasonable prediction of the flame temperature and soot precursor formation for the flames currently studied. To the first order, the trends observed in the measured PSDF could be understood in terms of computed trends for the formation of benzene, naphthalene and other soot precursors. Results of the current study inform particulate matter behavior for methane and natural gas combustion applications at elevated temperature and oxygen enriched conditions.

Ultrafine Particulate Matter in Methane-Air Premixed Flames With Oxygen Enrichment

A complementary computational and experimental study is carried out on the formation of ultrafine particulate matter in premixed laminar methane air flames. Specifically, soot formation is examined in premixed stretch-stabilized flames to observe soot inception and growth at relatively high flame temperatures common to oxygen enriched applications. Particle size distribution functions (PSDF) measured by mobility sizing show clear trends as the equivalence ratio increases from Φ = 2.2 to Φ = 2.4. For a given equivalence ratio, the measured distribution decreases in median mobility particle size as the maximum flame temperature increases from approximately 1,950–2,050 K. The median mobility particle size is 20 nm or less for all flame conditions studied. The volume fraction decreases with increasing flame temperature for all equivalence ratio conditions. The Φ = 2.2 condition is close to the soot inception limit and both number density and volume fraction decrease monotonically with increasing flame temperature. The higher equivalence ratio conditions show a peak in number density at 2,000 K which may indicate competing soot inception processes are optimized at this temperature. Flame structure computations are carried out using detailed gas-phase combustion chemistry of the Appel, Bockhorn, Frenklach (ABF) model to examine the connection of the observed PSDF to soot precursor chemistry. Agreement between measured and computed flame standoff distances indicates that the ABF model could provide a reasonable prediction of the flame temperature and soot precursor formation for the flames currently studied. To the first order, the trends observed in the measured PSDF could be understood in terms of computed trends for the formation of benzene, naphthalene and other soot precursors. Results of the current study inform particulate matter behavior for methane and natural gas combustion applications at elevated temperature and oxygen enriched conditions.