Exploring the Chemical Complexity and Sources of Airborne Fine Particulate Matter in East Asia by Nontarget Analysis and Multivariate Modeling.

ABSTRACT: The complex and dynamic nature of airborne fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has hindered understanding of its chemical composition, sources, and toxic effects. In the first steps of a larger study, here, we aimed to elucidate relationships between source regions, ambient conditions, and the chemical composition in water extracts of PM_2.5 samples (n = 85) collected over 16 months at an observatory in the Yellow Sea. In each extract, we quantified elements and major ions and profiled the complex mixtures of organic compounds by nontarget mass spectrometry. More than 50,000 nontarget features were detected, and by consensus of in silico tools, we assigned a molecular formula to 13,907 features. Oxygenated compounds were most prominent, followed by mixed nitrogenate

SUBMITTER: Froment J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11823462 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature