About this Research Topic
The attention of the scientific community and governments on air quality remains very high. Particular emphasis is given on particulate pollution since it is well established that exposure to particulate matter (PM) has adverse effects on human health. PM or aerosols are very complex multi-component mixtures generated through a variety of processes and mechanisms and emitted from numerous sources (both natural and anthropogenic). Recent studies indicate that the adverse effects of PM cannot be solely explained by their mass concentration levels alone and are dictated by their physical and chemical characteristics. The properties of PM depend on a number of different factors like their formation processes, their emission sources, and climatological conditions.
The accurate physicochemical characterization of PM in various environments with different characteristics is still very relevant today. Novel techniques (real-time monitoring and classical sampling) are constantly being developed and can be used in parallel or individually to provide more information on the characterization of PM. Uncommon situations, such as the recent community lock-downs due to the spread of coronavirus, or physical phenomena like forest fires, etc., provide the opportunity to study PM characteristics under unique conditions, which can provide valuable insight on their properties and emissions sources. Modeling studies (transportation, source apportionment, chemical transformation), also provide valuable information on particulate pollution and air pollution in general.
In this Research Topic, we wish to include studies on the physicochemical characterization of PM and/or their sources from different environments, using novel techniques, as well as modeling studies for the transportation and transformation of air pollutants with emphasis on PM. Of particular interest are studies performed under uncommon conditions.
We welcome Original Research, Reviews, and Perspectives focusing on, but not limited to the following topics:
• Chemical characterization of PM samples
• Characterization of the physical properties of PM in different environments
• Effects on aerosol physicochemical properties from varying climatic conditions
• Source apportionment studies using novel techniques or approaches
• Environmental modeling studies
• Development of novel analytical techniques for the study of air pollution
The accurate physicochemical characterization of PM in various environments with different characteristics is still very relevant today. Novel techniques (real-time monitoring and classical sampling) are constantly being developed and can be used in parallel or individually to provide more information on the characterization of PM. Uncommon situations, such as the recent community lock-downs due to the spread of coronavirus, or physical phenomena like forest fires, etc., provide the opportunity to study PM characteristics under unique conditions, which can provide valuable insight on their properties and emissions sources. Modeling studies (transportation, source apportionment, chemical transformation), also provide valuable information on particulate pollution and air pollution in general.
In this Research Topic, we wish to include studies on the physicochemical characterization of PM and/or their sources from different environments, using novel techniques, as well as modeling studies for the transportation and transformation of air pollutants with emphasis on PM. Of particular interest are studies performed under uncommon conditions.
We welcome Original Research, Reviews, and Perspectives focusing on, but not limited to the following topics:
• Chemical characterization of PM samples
• Characterization of the physical properties of PM in different environments
• Effects on aerosol physicochemical properties from varying climatic conditions
• Source apportionment studies using novel techniques or approaches
• Environmental modeling studies
• Development of novel analytical techniques for the study of air pollution
Keywords: aerosol, particulate matter, air pollution, chemical characterization, physicochemical properties, modeling, analytical techniques, source apportionment, climate
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
