FOREVER CHEMICALS

PFAS from fluorochemical plant found in dust of nearby homes

North Carolina State University

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Researchers from the GenX Exposure Study have detected PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) associated with a nearby fluorochemical plant in the household dust of homes located in Cumberland and Bladen counties, North Carolina. Homes closer to the plant had higher concentrations of those specific PFAS than homes located farther away.

Additionally, the researchers detected high levels of other PFAS not necessarily associated with the fluorochemical plant in over 90% of samples taken from homes. Overall, the findings indicate that household dust can be an additional PFAS exposure source.

“PFAS exposure via contaminated well water is relatively well studied but, given the air emissions from the plant, we wanted to learn whether household dust was also a source of exposure,” says Nadine Kotlarz, assistant professor of civil, construction, and environmental engineering, member of North Carolina State University’s Center for Human Health and the Environment (CHHE), and corresponding author of the work.

In February 2019, the team collected dust samples from 65 homes located within ~6 miles (9 km) of the plant; these homes had previously undergone well-water testing as part of the GenX Exposure Study. They targeted 48 PFAS, including 12 PFEAs (or per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids, a subset of PFAS) specifically associated with the fluorochemical plant that were also detected in the drinking water wells of nearby residents. They also included ultrashort chain PFAS in the testing due to increasing reports of their presence in dust and people.

Every dust sample had at least one PFAS detected. GenX was present in 89% of the samples, and an additional six of the 12 PFEAs were detected in over 75% of the samples. Dust concentrations of six PFEAs (PEPA, PMPA, PFMOAA, PFO2HxA, GenX, and Nafion byproduct 2) decreased significantly as home distance from the fluorochemical plant increased.

The team also found TFA, an ultrashort chain PFAS, in 89% of dust samples. This compound had the highest median concentration of the 48 targeted PFAS in the study. Ultrashort chain PFAS like TFA are an emerging class of PFAS that originate from breakdown of refrigerants.

“For people living near the fluorochemical facility, it would be natural to wonder how important dust exposure may be,” says Jane Hoppin, environmental epidemiologist at NC State and principal investigator of the GenX Exposure Study.

“Generally speaking, we know that dust exposure can contribute to overall exposure, and that small children tend to have higher dust exposures than adults,” Hoppin says. “This study demonstrates the need for evaluating household dust for PFAS in impacted communities. Additionally, we need to identify the sources of short chain PFAS, such as TFA.”

The study appears in Environmental Science and Technology and was supported by research funding from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (1R21ES029353), NC State’s Center for Human Health and the Environment, the Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS (P42 ES0310095), and the NC Policy Collaboratory. Susie Proctor, former research assistant at NC State and current Ph.D. student at University of Michigan, is first author. Sharon Zhang and Heather Stapleton of Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment developed the analytical method and performed the dust PFAS analyses. Other NC State contributors were Jane Hoppin and Detlef Knappe.

-peake-

Note to editors: An abstract follows.

“Per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acid (PFEA) concentrations in indoor dust are higher in homes closer to a fluorochemical manufacturing facility”

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07043

Authors: Susie Proctor, Jane Hoppin, Detlef Knappe, Nadine Kotlarz, North Carolina State University; Sharon Zhang, Heather Stapleton, Duke University
Published: March 31, 2025 in Environmental Science and Technology

Abstract:
Concentrations of 48 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were measured in settled dust samples from 65 homes of GenX Exposure Study participants residing near a fluorochemical manufacturing facility in North Carolina. Eight PFAS [perfluoro(3,5-dioxahexanoic) acid (aka PFO2HxA), perfluoro-2-(perfluoromethoxy)propanoic acid (PMPA), perfluoro-2-ethoxypropanoic acid (PEPA), 6:2 fluorotelomer phosphate diester (6:2 diPAP), 6:2/8:2 fluorotelomer phosphate diester (6:2/8:2 diPAP), perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA), perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (PFDS), and 2-(N-ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido)acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA)] were detected in >90% of dust samples. Dust concentrations of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs) produced at the facility (PEPA, PMPA, perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic acid (PFMOAA), PFO2HxA, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA aka GenX), and Ethanesulfonic acid, 2-[1-[difluoro(1,2,2,2- tetrafluoroethoxy)methyl]-1,2,2,2- tetrafluoroethoxy]-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro- (Nafion byproduct 2) were significantly, negatively associated with home distance from the facility. Homes closer to the facility had higher summed mass concentrations of 12 targeted PFEAs (∑_12_PFEAs)but not higher (∑_48PFAS). Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), an ultrashort chain PFAS, and three diPAPs (8:2/6:2 diPAP, 6:2 diPAP, and 8:2 diPAP) were the major contributors to ∑_48PFAS, and these compounds did not show relationships with distance. Based on our previous findings associating PFEAs in well water and human serum, our current findings indicate dust could be an important PFAS exposure source.

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Journal

Environmental Science & Technology

DOI

10.1021/acs.est.4c07043 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Ether Acid (PFEA) Concentrations in Indoor Dust are Higher in Homes Closer to a Fluorochemical Manufacturing Facility

Article Publication Date

31-Mar-2025

Rice scientists pioneer method to tackle ‘forever chemicals’

New process upcycles hazardous chemicals, ‘transforms waste into a resource’

Rice University

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Rice University researchers have developed an innovative solution to a pressing environmental challenge: removing and destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly called “forever chemicals.” A study led byJames Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science and nanoengineering, and graduate student Phelecia Scotland unveils a method that not only eliminates PFAS from water systems but also transforms waste into high-value graphene, offering a cost-effective and sustainable approach to environmental remediation. This research was published March 31 in Nature Water.

PFAS are synthetic compounds in various consumer products, valued for their heat, water and oil resistance. However, their chemical stability has made them persistent in the environment, contaminating water supplies and posing significant health risks, including cancer and immune system disruptions. Traditional methods of PFAS disposal are costly, energy-intensive and often generate secondary pollutants, prompting the need for innovative solutions that are more efficient and environmentally friendly.

 

“Our method doesn’t just destroy these hazardous chemicals; it turns waste into something of value,” Tour said. “By upcycling the spent carbon into graphene, we’ve created a process that’s not only environmentally beneficial but also economically viable, helping to offset the costs of remediation.”

 

The research team’s process employs flash joule heating (FJH) to tackle these challenges. By combining granular activated carbon (GAC) saturated with PFAS and mineralizing agents like sodium or calcium salts, the researchers applied a high voltage to generate temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Celsius in under one second. The intense heat breaks down the strong carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS, converting them into inert, nontoxic fluoride salts. Simultaneously, the GAC is upcycled into graphene, a valuable material used in industries ranging from electronics to construction.

The research results yielded more than 96% defluorination efficiency and 99.98% removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), one of the most common PFAS pollutants. Analytical tests confirmed that the reaction produced undetectable amounts of harmful volatile organic fluorides, a common byproduct of other PFAS treatments. The method also eliminates the secondary waste associated with traditional disposal methods such as incineration or adding spent carbon to landfills.

“This dual-purpose approach is a game changer,” Scotland said. “It transforms waste into a resource while providing a scalable, cost-effective solution to an urgent environmental issue.”

The implications of this research extend beyond PFOA and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, the two most studied PFAS; it even works on the most recalcitrant PFAS type, Teflon R. The high temperatures achieved during FJH suggest that this method could degrade a wide range of PFAS compounds, paving the way for broader water treatment and waste management applications. The FJH process can also be tailored to produce other valuable carbon-based materials, including carbon nanotubes and nanodiamonds, further enhancing its versatility and economic appeal.

“With its promise of zero net cost, scalability and environmental benefits, our method represents a step forward in the fight against forever chemicals,” Scotland said. “As concerns over PFAS contamination continue to grow, this breakthrough offers hope for safeguarding water quality and protecting public health worldwide.”

The study’s co-authors from Rice include Kevin Wyss,Yi Cheng, Lucas Eddy,Jacob Beckham, Justin Sharp, Tengda Si, Bing Deng and Michael Wong from the Department of Chemistry; Youngkun Chung, Bo Wang and Juan Donoso from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Chi Hun Choi, Yimo Han, Boris Yakobson and Yufeng Zhao from the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering; and Yu-Yi Shen and Mason Tomson from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Additional co-authors include Sarah Grace Zetterholm and Christopher Griggs from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.

The research was funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Stauffer-Rothwell Scholarship, and Rice Academy Fellowship.

 

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Journal

Nature Water

DOI

10.1038/s44221-025-00404-z 

Article Title

Mineralization of captured perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid at zero net cost using flash Joule heating

Article Publication Date

31-Mar-2025

 

Administration is weakening U.S. research capacity and endangering Americans, nation’s leading scientists warn

About 1,900 scientists warn that actions being taken by the Trump administration will slow scientific advances and harm Americans

Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania

The wellbeing of Americans and the country’s longstanding position as a world leader in science and technology are in jeopardy due to the actions of the Trump administration, approximately 1,900 leading figures in medicine, science, and engineering warn today in an open statement to the American public. The list of signatories includes Nobel Prize winners, deans of medical schools, and national leaders in science and technology.

“For over 80 years, wise investments by the US government have built up the nation’s research enterprise, making it the envy of the world,” the experts note. “Astoundingly, the Trump administration is destabilizing this enterprise by gutting funding for research, firing thousands of scientists, removing public access to scientific data, and pressuring researchers to alter or abandon their work on ideological grounds.”

The statement is an “SOS to the public” to warn that these setbacks will forestall life-saving medical research and slow advances in science and technology that Americans rely on daily. The advances science has given us range from medical discoveries to smartphones, GPS, weather forecasting, and cleaner air. Weakening the US research capacity will damage the economy and diminish U.S. global competitiveness and national security. “We all benefit from science, and we all stand to lose if the nation’s research enterprise is destroyed,” said the authors.

The statement cites a range of actions by the Trump administration, including layoffs at federal research agencies, cuts to funding that underwrites research at hundreds of universities and medical centers, and government “censorship” to alter data and research findings available to the public. Financial and legal threats are forcing the nation’s research institutions to pause research (including studies of new disease treatments), freeze faculty hires, and stop enrolling graduate students, “the pipeline for the next generation of scientists.” They describe a “climate of fear” among researchers, who are altering their proposals and publications to remove scientific terms objectionable to the current administration.

The statement was written by 13 scientists and physicians and endorsed by approximately 1,900 leaders in science, medicine, and engineering from 38 states and over 400 universities and research institutions, all of whom are elected members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Congress established the National Academy of Sciences in 1863 as a private, nongovernmental institution tasked with advising the government on issues of science and technology. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 and the National Academy of Medicine in 1970. Election to the academies is one of the highest honors a scientist can receive. The authors state that the views expressed are their own and not those of the National Academies or their home institutions.

The scientists who helped produce the statement include:

Richard N. Aslin, PhD
Senior Scientist
Yale School of Medicine

Paula Braveman, MD, MPH
Professor Emeritus of Family and Community Medicine
Founding Director, Center for Health Equity
University of California, San Francisco

Ana V. Diez Roux, MD, PhD, MPH
Distinguished University Professor of Epidemiology
Director of the Drexel Urban Health Collaborative
Dean Emerita Dornsife School of Public Health
Drexel University

Marthe Gold, MD, MPH
Senior Research Scholar
New York Academy of Medicine
Professor Emerita, CUNY School of Medicine

Kathleen Mullan Harris, PhD
James E. Haar Distinguished Professor of Sociology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Barbara Landau, PhD
Dick and Lydia Todd Professor
Department of Cognitive Science
Johns Hopkins University

Charles F. Manski, PhD
Board of Trustees Professor in Economics
Department of Economics and Institute for Policy Research
Northwestern University

Douglas S. Massey, PhD
Henry G. Bryant Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs Emeritus
Princeton University

Lynn Nadel, PhD
Regents Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Cognitive Science
University of Arizona

Benjamin David Santer, PhD
Climate scientist
Formerly at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Kevin Struhl, PhD
David Wesley Gaiser Professor
Dept. Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Harvard Medical School

Ray Weymann, PhD
Carnegie Institution for Science

Steven H. Woolf, MD, MPH
Professor of Family Medicine and Population Health
Director Emeritus, Center on Society and Health
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

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This news release is being posted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center on behalf of the scientists who signed the statement.

 

Trade tariffs on Canadian pharmaceuticals expected to increase costs in the U.S. and strain drug supply chains

Proposed tariffs could affect a wide range of medications currently in use, from antibiotics to mental health treatments

University of Toronto - Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

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TORONTO—Up to $3 billion in pharmaceuticals currently used in the United States (U.S.) depend on Canadian manufacturing, according to new research findings from the University of Toronto. Applying 25 per cent trade tariffs to these pharmaceuticals could add $750 million in cost to the U.S. market and has the potential to significantly disrupt drug supply over the long term.

The analysis, published today in JAMA, focused on drugs with final production in Canada, a subset of the overall $6.75 billion in pharmaceuticals exported from Canada to the U.S. This accounts for more than 400 different ready-for-use medications, of which 28 have no alternative supplier.

“The proposed tariffs could affect a wide range of medications, from antibiotics to mental health treatments,” said Mina Tadrous, lead author and assistant professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. “Straining this supply chain could trigger drug shortages and jeopardize patient care. We know that drugs with only one manufacturer and rapidly shifting supply chains increase the risk of shortages,” he said.

Trade tariffs have been imposed twice on Canadian imports by the current U.S. administration, with specific products exempted, including pharmaceutical products imported under the terms of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. However, future proposed tariffs will no longer exempt pharmaceutical imports after April 2, 2025, raising concerns about drug availability, affordability, and supply stability.

To assess the potential magnitude of tariff impact on the U.S. drug market, researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis of drugs manufactured in Canada and exported to the U.S. using data from the DailyMed package inserts database and IQVIA’s MIDAS® quarterly sales and volume data. Using a validated tool, they assessed the clinical importance of each drug and determined its shortage history, as reported by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Based on this new data, the researchers suggest that pharmaceuticals should be exempt from tariffs to prevent higher healthcare costs and worsening U.S. supply disruptions. “Our work highlights that perhaps the U.S. should consider removing medications from its list of imports, in line with previous tariffs, to avoid disruptions to supply chains and potential shortages that may affect U.S. patients,” said Tadrous, who is also the Canada Research Chair in Real World Evidence and Pharmaceutical Policy.  

 

The researchers note that although Canada is not the largest supplier of medications to the U.S., the impact of tariffs could be substantial. Extending tariffs to larger suppliers such as China, India or Europe, could worsen the effects predicted.

While the researchers focused on the impacts on the U.S. market, introducing pharmaceutical tariffs sets a concerning precedent and can have a broader ripple effect, Tadrous notes. Applying tariffs increases the risk of retaliatory counter-tariffs, which could jeopardize access to essential medicines for Canadians and globally.

“Policymakers can leverage other tools or create tax incentives to attract domestic manufacturing, but abruptly applying tariffs to a crucial sector with already strained supply chains is not the way to go. People’s health is at stake.”

 

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About the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto is Canada's top-ranked faculty of pharmacy, offering cutting-edge undergraduate and graduate programs. We are globally recognized for our impactful research in pharmaceutical sciences and for fostering expert and innovative clinical practice. Our scientific research focuses on the role of pharmacists in the health care system and the full scope of drug discovery and delivery. We advance education programs that develop leaders in science and clinical practice and work to strengthen the link between research, education, and patient care. For more information visit pharmacy.utoronto.ca

 

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Journal

JAMA

DOI

10.1001/jama.2025.4583 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

TORONTO—Up to $3 billion in pharmaceuticals currently used in the United States (U.S.) depend on Canadian manufacturing, according to new research findings from the University of Toronto. Applying 25 per cent trade tariffs to these pharmaceuticals could add $750 million in cost to the U.S. market and has the potential to significantly disrupt drug supply over the long term. The analysis, published today in JAMA, focused on drugs with final production in Canada, a subset of the overall $6.75 bi

Article Publication Date

31-Mar-2025

Trade Tariffs on Canadian Pharmaceuticals— Implications for US Drug Supply and Costs

JAMA

Peer-Reviewed Publication

JAMA Network

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About The Study: 

Although Canada is not the largest supplier of medications to the U.S., tariffs could raise costs and strain supply chains. This study estimates that $3 billion in U.S. pharmaceuticals depend on Canadian manufacturing, with 25% tariffs adding $750 million in cost. Although the Inflation Reduction Act provisions limit cost pass-through to some payers (i.e., Medicare), manufacturers may still adjust production or alter distribution, increasing supply chain fragility.

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Mina Tadrous, PharmD, PhD, email mina.tadrous@utoronto.ca.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jama.2025.4583)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

#  #  #

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article This link will be live at the embargo time https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2025.4583?guestAccessKey=6be4e13e-20fc-4326-ab0a-0fc3a41e27c0&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=033125

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Journal

JAMA

 

Deadly antibiotic-resistant ‘Superbug’ bacteria spreading in Malaysian hospital

University of Birmingham

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A virulent strain of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbug’ that causes severe disease has been found circulating in a Malaysian hospital - posing significant challenges to global public health, a new study reveals.  

Analysing 10 years’ worth of data, scientists discovered that most Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) infections at the main tertiary hospital in Terengganu, Malaysia, belonged to Global Clone 2 (or GC2), which is the dominant type in most parts of the world. 

Investigating data relating to 126 samples of the bacteria (2011-2020), researchers found that the majority of Malaysian A. baumannii were resistant to multiple antibiotics, with most resistant to carbapenems - the drugs of choice for the treatment of A. baumannii infections.  

Publishing their findings in Microbial Genomics, the international research team also found that 97% of the bacterial samples carried plasmids – tiny DNA ‘toolkits’ – that help spread antibiotic resistance. 

Co-author Dr David Cleary, from the University of Birmingham, commented: “Our study provides further evidence that the same dangerous family of A. baumannii bacteria keeps spreading in hospitals. Despite its importance, there is very little information on A. baumannii from low- and middle-income countries. 

“Understanding how the disease evolves is critical in helping to prevent the spread of disease, as well as developing and optimising treatments. A. baumannii keeps evolving new resistance tricks and low- and middle-income countries need more tools to track it.  

“There’s an urgent need for continuous surveillance and development of effective treatment protocols to combat the spread of MDR A. baumannii. The predominance of the GC2 lineage and the high incidence of carbapenem resistance pose a significant threat to public health.” 

Prof Chew Chieng Yeo, the principal investigator from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), adds: “Our study shows the importance of international research collaboration to tackle the pressing issue of the spread of multidrug resistant bacteria, more so when there is scarcity of data from certain parts of the world.”   

A. baumannii can cause infections in blood, lungs, urinary tracts and wounds. It typically causes these in healthcare settings, such as hospitals. Owing to its ability to resist antibiotic treatment, it has been listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a critical priority antibiotic-resistant pathogen.  

ENDS 

Notes to editor:  

• The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries. 

• ‘Whole-genome sequencing of Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates from a tertiary hospital in Terengganu, Malaysia (2011–2020), revealed the predominance of the Global Clone 2 lineage’ – Nurul Saidah Din et al is published in Microbial Genomics. 

• Participating institutions: University of Birmingham; Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia; University of Southampton; International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

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Journal

Microbial Genomics

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Cells

Article Title

Whole-genome sequencing of Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates from a tertiary hospital in Terengganu, Malaysia (2011–2020), revealed the predominance of the Global Clone 2 lineage

 

The proportion of harmful substances in particulate matter is much higher than assumed

University of Basel

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People breathing contaminated air over the course of years are at greater risk of developing numerous diseases. This is thought to be due to highly reactive components in particulate matter, which affect biological processes in the body. However, researchers from the University of Basel, Switzerland, have now shown that precisely these components disappear within hours and that previous measurements therefore completely underestimate the quantities in which they are present.

From chronic respiratory problems to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and dementia, health damage caused by particulate matter air pollution is wide-ranging and serious. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over six million deaths a year are caused by increased exposure to particulate matter. The chemical composition of these tiny particles in the air, which come from a wide range of both anthropogenic and natural sources, is highly complex. Which particles trigger which reactions and long-term diseases in the body is the subject of intensive research.

This research focuses on particularly reactive components known to experts as oxygen radicals or reactive oxygen species. These compounds can oxidize biomolecules inside and on the surface of cells in the respiratory tract, damaging them and in turn triggering inflammatory responses that impact the entire body.

Experts previously collected the particular matter on filters and analyzed the particles following a delay of days or weeks. “Since these reactive oxygen species react with other molecules so quickly, they should be measured without delay,” says atmospheric scientist Professor Markus Kalberer, explaining the idea behind the study that he and his team recently published in Science Advances.

Measured from the air in real-time

The team from the Department of Environmental Sciences has developed a new method for measuring particulate matter within seconds. This involves collecting the particles directly from the air in a liquid, where they come into contact with various chemicals. Within this solution, the oxygen radicals then react and produce quantifiable fluorescence signals.

Measurements taken with the new method reveal that 60% to 99% of oxygen radicals disappear within minutes or hours. Previous analyses of particulate matter based on filter deposition therefore delivered a distorted image. “However, since the measurement error in the case of delayed analysis isn’t constant, it’s not possible to extrapolate from previous filter-based analyses,” says Kalberer. The real proportion of harmful substances in the particulate matter is, he says, significantly higher than previously assumed.

According to the atmospheric researcher, the principal challenge with the new method was to develop a measuring instrument that carried out chemical analyses autonomously and continuously under stable conditions not only in the laboratory but also during field measurements at a wide range of locations.

Different and stronger inflammatory responses

Moreover, further laboratory analyses with epithelial cells from the lungs provided evidence that, in particular, the short-lived, highly reactive components of particulate matter have a different effect than that of the particles analyzed using the previous, delayed measurements. The short-lived reactive components in particles triggered different and stronger inflammatory responses.

In a subsequent step, the measuring instrument will be further developed in order to obtain deeper insights into the composition and effects of particulate matter. Kalberer explains: “If we can measure the proportion of highly reactive, harmful components more accurately and reliably, it will also be possible to adopt better protective measures.”

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Journal

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.adp8100 

Article Title

Short-lived Reactive Components Substantially Contribute to Particulate Matter Oxidative Potential

Article Publication Date

31-Mar-2025