Comprehensive analysis of particulate matter, gaseous pollutants, and microbiological contamination in an international chain supermarket.

Indoor environmental quality is of utmost importance since urban populations spend a large proportion of their life in confined spaces. Supermarkets offer a wide range of products and services that are prone to emitting several air pollutants. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive characterisation of the indoor and outdoor air quality in a multinational supermarket, encompassing not only criteria parameters but also unregulated pollutants of concern.

Chemical composition of PM at a rural site in the western Mediterranean and its relationship with the oxidative potential.

A comprehensive chemical characterization (water-soluble ions, organic and elemental carbon, water- and methanol-soluble organic carbon, levoglucosan, and major and trace metals) of PM samples collected in a rural area located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula was performed. Additionally, the oxidative potential of the samples, used as an indicator of aerosol toxicity, was determined by the ascorbic acid (OP) and dithiothreitol (OP) assays. The average concentration of PM during the study period, spanning from late winter to early spring, was 20.

Organic tracers in fine and coarse aerosols at an urban Mediterranean site: contribution of biomass burning and biogenic emissions.

The concentrations of anhydrosugars (levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan), polyols (inositol, xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol), and glucose were measured in PM and PM samples collected during 1 year at a traffic site in the city of Elche (southeastern Spain). Levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan were mainly found in the PM fraction since they are mainly emitted from biomass burning (BB). Likewise, inositol, xylitol, and sorbitol were primarily distributed in the fine mode, suggesting a non-negligible contribution from anthropogenic sources (specifically BB) to the levels of these compounds.

Sensitivity of PM oxidative potential to aerosol chemical composition at a Mediterranean urban site: ascorbic acid versus dithiothreitol measurements.

Unlabelled: The oxidative potential (OP) of PM daily samples collected at a traffic site in southeastern Spain during summer and winter was assessed by two acellular assays: the ascorbic acid (AA) and dithiothreitol (DTT) methods. Although PM levels were similar during both periods, OP values (expressed in nmol min m) showed a defined seasonal trend. The AA activity was higher in summer than in winter, whereas the DTT reactivity exhibited an opposite seasonal pattern.

Size segregated ionic species collected in a harbour area.

Water-soluble ions were analysed in size segregated aerosol samples collected in the port of Alicante (Southeastern Spain) during summer and winter using a multistage cascade impactor. Seasonal variations in the size distributions of the analysed components and the influence of bulk materials handling (loading/unloading and stockpiling) at the docks were investigated. The size distributions of SO, NH and K were characterized by prominent peaks in the condensation and droplet modes, both in summer and winter, while those of Ca, Na, Mg and Cl had a main peak centred at ∼4 μm.