Ambient fine and coarse particles in Japan affect nasal and bronchial epithelial cells differently and elicit varying immune response

Ambient particulate matter (PM) epidemiologically exacerbates respiratory and immune health, including allergic rhinitis (AR) and bronchial asthma (BA). Although fine and coarse particles can affect respiratory tract, the differences in their effects on the upper and lower respiratory tract and immune system, their underlying mechanism, and the components responsible for the adverse health effects have not been yet completely elucidated. In this study, ambient fine and coarse particles were collected at three different locations in Japan by cyclone technique. Both particles collected at all locations decreased the viability of nasal epithelial cells and antigen presenting cells (APCs), increased the production of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β from bronchial epithelial cells and APCs, and induced expression of dendritic and epithelial cell (DEC) 205 on APCs. Differences in inflammatory responses, but not in cytotoxicity, were shown between both particles, and among three locations. Some components such as Ti, Co, Zn, Pb, As, OC (organic carbon) and EC (elemental carbon) showed significant correlations to inflammatory responses or cytotoxicity. These results suggest that ambient fine and coarse particles differently affect nasal and bronchial epithelial cells and immune response, which may depend on particles size diameter, chemical composition and source related particles types

ナンキョク タイリュウケン チュウ ノ チョウビショウ リュウシ ノ キハツトクセイ ト ソノ キセツ ヘンカ

第46-47次日本南極地域観測隊で,超微小粒子の粒径分布とその揮発特性の連続観測を実施した.夏季には超微小粒子のほとんどは揮発性粒子で,硫酸,メタンスルホン酸,硫酸塩で構成されていた.夏には超微小粒子域の非揮発性粒子の割合は20% だったが,冬季には90% を超すこともあった.冬季の超微小粒子のほとんどは海塩粒子であり,海氷上で組成分別をした海塩粒子も含まれていた.南極大陸内陸部上空から昭和基地(沿岸部)に空気塊が輸送される時には,冬季にも揮発性粒子の割合が減少していた.The Size distribution and volatility of ultrafine aerosol particles were measured at Syowa Station during the 46-47 Japanese Antarctic Research Expeditions. During the summer, most of the ultrafine particles were volatile particles, which were composed of H_2SO_4, CH_3SO_3H and sulfates bi-sulfates. The abundance of non-volatile particles was ～ 20% during the summer, increasing to>90% in winter-spring. Non-volatile particles in winter were dominantly sea-salt particles. Some ultrafine sea-salt particles might be released from sea-ice. When air mass was transported from the free troposphere over the Antarctic continent, the abundance of non-volatile particles dropped to<30% even in winter

ナンキョク ショウワキチ ニ オケル サブミクロン リュウシ リュウケイ ブンプ ノ キセツ ヘンカ

2004年2月～ 2005年1月にかけて昭和基地で直径5-168 nmの粒径分布を連続観測した.粒径分布は,冬に1～ 2のモードから成り,濃度の高いモードは50 nm以上であることが多く,春～ 夏や秋には2～ 3のモードから成り,濃度の高いモードは20-80 nm付近にあることが多かった.50 nm以上に谷を持つ粒径分布の出現頻度は,開水面が昭和基地に近い夏～ 秋に多かった.一山のみの粒径分布は冬と初夏に多くなり,冬には幅が広く,初夏には幅の狭い分布を示した.初夏から初秋にかけて,10-20 nm付近の核形成モード粒子の濃度が高くなることがあった.11月下旬には,カタバ風の弱くなる午後に核形成モード粒子の濃度が高くなる事例を数日にわたり観測した.Number-size distributions (5-168 nm in diameter) of atmospheric aerosol particles were measured at Syowa Station, Antarctica from February 2004 to January 2005. Size distributions in winter consisted of 1 to 2 modes larger than 50 nm in diameter, whereas 2 to 3 modes contributed to the size distributions in October to March with mode diameters between 20 and 80 nm. Size distribution with a valley at around 50 nm was often observed in summer to fall when the open ocean was located near Syowa Station. From September to March, concentration of ultra fine particles (<20 nm) was occasionally high. Associated with local wind pattern after vertical mixing of boundary layer air in late afternoon, high concentrations of ultra fine particles were observed for several days in late November

ショウワキチ デ カンソク サレタ ヘイズ ゲンショウ

2004-2007年に行ったエアロゾル重点観測中に,昭和基地でヘイズ現象が観測された.ヘイズ現象時は風が比較的弱く,降雪・地吹雪は観測されず,冬～ 春にヘイズが出現していた.「南極ヘイズ」時には,バックグラウンド状態と比べてエアロゾル数濃度が1-2桁ほど増加していた.エアロゾル成分のバルク分析から,ヘイズ現象中のエアロゾル主成分は海塩成分(e.g., Na^+, Cl^->)と判明した.流跡線解析とNAAPSモデルから,南アメリカやアフリカ南部でのバイオマス燃焼の影響を受けた空気塊が,南大洋上の低気圧活動に伴って昭和基地まで輸送されていることが示唆された.中低緯度域から極域方向への空気塊流入と,輸送中の海塩粒子の発生と混合とにより,「南極ヘイズ」が出現しているのだろう.バックグラウンド時とヘイズ時のO_3 濃度の差は,冬よりも極夜明け後の春に大きくなる傾向が確認された.不均一反応により海塩粒子から高反応性ハロゲン化合物が放出されることがあるため,極夜明け後の南極沿岸域でのヘイズ現象は,地上O_3 消失現象にも密接に関連している可能性がある.During our aerosol measurement program at Syowa Station, Antarctica in 2004-2007, some low visibility (haze) phenomena were observed under conditions with weak wind and without drifting snow and fog in winter-spring. In the "Antarctic haze" phenomenon, the number concentration of aerosol particles and black carbon concentration increased by one-two orders higher relative to background conditions at Syowa Station, while surface O_3 concentration simultaneously dropped especially after polar sunrise. Major aerosol constituents in the haze phenomenon were sea-salts (e.g., Na^+ and Cl^-). From the trajectory analysis and NAAPS model, the plumes from biomass burning in South America and southern Africa were transported to Syowa Station, Antarctic coast, during eastward (occasionally westward) approach of cyclones in the Southern Ocean. Thus, poleward flow of the plume from mid-latitudes and injection of sea-salt particles during the transport may lead to the Antarctic haze phenomenon at Syowa Station. The difference of O_3 concentration between the background and the haze conditions tended to be larger in spring (polar sunrise) relative to that in winter. Because enhancement of sea-salt particles can play an important role as an additional source of reactive halogen species, the haze episodes might make a significant contribution to surface O_3 depletion during the polar sunrise on the Antarctic coast

カイヨウ カンソク センヨウセン ニヨル ナンキョクカイ ノ タイキ エアロゾル カンソク

南極海における大気エアロゾル粒子の粒径分布やイオン成分濃度,先駆ガス濃度の時空間分布を調べるために,「白鳳丸」や「タンガロア」,「海鷹丸」による船上観測をおこなった.海況の穏やかな南極海での観測では,直径0.1 μm以上の既存エアロゾル粒子数濃度が著しく低い条件下で,高濃度の核生成モード粒子(直径<20 nm)を観測することがあった.逆に,既存のエアロゾル粒子数濃度が高い場合には,核生成モード粒子数濃度の増加は見られなかった.2005年1月に「海鷹丸」で観測したリュツォ・ホルム湾洋上のエアロゾル粒子中主要イオン濃度は,昭和基地で1月に観測される平均的な濃度とほぼ同じであった.「海鷹丸」と昭和基地との同時観測の結果,短時間に凝縮核数濃度が高くなるイベントの場合には,核生成モードやエイトケンモード粒子の粒径分布は両者で大きく異なっていた.To investigate spatial and temporal variation of number-size distribution of atmospheric aerosol particles in the Antarctic Ocean, atmospheric observations were conducted on research vessels: Hakuho-maru, Tangaroa, and Umitaka-maru. Concentrations of ionic constituents in aerosols and precursor gases (SO_2 and NH_3) were also measured during the cruises. Concentrations of nucleation mode particles (<20 nm in diameter) were often high under the conditions of very low number concentrations of preexisting aerosol particles larger than 0.1 μm in diameter, when the ocean was calm. Nucleation mode particles did not appear when concentrations of preexisting aerosols were high. Major ionic concentrations of aerosols at Lutzow-Holmbukta observed by Umitaka-maru in January 2005 were almost the same as average values of those in January at Syowa Station. Especially for short-term increasing events in condensation nucleus concentration, large differences were found for number size-distributions of nucleation and Aitken mode particles between Syowa Station and Umitaka-maru in Lutzow-Holmbukta

Contribution of Local and Transboundary Air Pollution to the Urban Air Quality of Fukuoka, Japan

Transboundary air pollution (TAP) and local air pollution (LAP) influence the air quality of urban areas. Fukuoka, located on the west side of Japan and affected by TAP from the Asian continent, is a unique example for understanding the contribution of LAP and TAP. Gaseous species and particulate matter (PM) were measured for approximately three weeks in Fukuoka in the winter of 2018. We classified two distinctive periods, LAP and TAP, based on wind speed. The classification was supported by variations in the concentration of gaseous species and by backward trajectories. Most air pollutants, including NOx and PM, were high in the LAP period and low in the TAP period. However, ozone was the exception. Therefore, our findings suggest that reducing local emissions is necessary. Ozone was higher in the TAP period, and the variation in ozone concentration was relatively small, indicating that ozone was produced outside of the city and transported to Fukuoka. Thus, air pollutants must also be reduced at a regional scale, including in China

Seasonal variation of size distribution of submicrometer aerosol particles at Syowa Station, Antarctica

Number-size distributions (5-168 nm in diameter) of atmospheric aerosol particles were measured at Syowa Station, Antarctica from February 2004 to January 2005. Size distributions in winter consisted of 1 to 2 modes larger than 50 nm in diameter, whereas 2 to 3 modes contributed to the size distributions in October to March with mode diameters between 20 and 80 nm. Size distribution with a valley at around 50 nm was often observed in summer to fall when the open ocean was located near Syowa Station. From September to March, concentration of ultra fine particles (<20 nm) was occasionally high. Associated with local wind pattern after vertical mixing of boundary layer air in late afternoon, high concentrations of ultra fine particles were observed for several days in late November

Haze episodes at Syowa Station, Antarctica

During our aerosol measurement program at Syowa Station, Antarctica in 2004-2007, some low visibility (haze) phenomena were observed under conditions with weak wind and without drifting snow and fog in winter-spring. In the "Antarctic haze" phenomenon, the number concentration of aerosol particles and black carbon concentration increased by one-two orders higher relative to background conditions at Syowa Station, while surface O_3 concentration simultaneously dropped especially after polar sunrise. Major aerosol constituents in the haze phenomenon were sea-salts (e.g., Na^+ and Cl^-). From the trajectory analysis and NAAPS model, the plumes from biomass burning in South America and southern Africa were transported to Syowa Station, Antarctic coast, during eastward (occasionally westward) approach of cyclones in the Southern Ocean. Thus, poleward flow of the plume from mid-latitudes and injection of sea-salt particles during the transport may lead to the Antarctic haze phenomenon at Syowa Station. The difference of O_3 concentration between the background and the haze conditions tended to be larger in spring (polar sunrise) relative to that in winter. Because enhancement of sea-salt particles can play an important role as an additional source of reactive halogen species, the haze episodes might make a significant contribution to surface O_3 depletion during the polar sunrise on the Antarctic coast

Size-segregated measurements of cloud condensation nucleus activity and hygroscopic growth for aerosols at Cape Hedo, Japan, in spring 2008

Size-segregated measurements of cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) activity and hygroscopic growth were performed simultaneously for sulfate-rich aerosols at Cape Hedo, Okinawa, Japan, in spring 2008. The CCN fractions as functions of particle size at water vapor supersaturations of 0.44%, 0.25%, and 0.10% had nearly stepwise increases, and the diameters for 50% activation of its maximum (dact) were close to that of (NH4)2SO4. The size-resolved hygroscopic growth factor g measured using a hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer at 85% relative humidity (RH) mainly showed unimodal and highly hygroscopic characteristics. The observed characteristics as well as aerosol mass spectrometer data suggest the dominance of internally mixed ammoniated sulfate-rich particles. A clear negative correlation between dact and median g (gmedian) was observed for Aitken-mode particles, and backward air mass trajectories indicate lower dact and higher g of the aerosols from China and the Pacific and the opposite tendency for those from Korea and Japan. The size dependence of gmedian suggests that less hygroscopic carbonaceous components were more enriched in Aitken-mode particles and therefore affect the CCN activity and hygroscopicity. The CCN activation diameters were predicted on the basis of gmedian using a core-shell model. The modeled activation diameters reasonably agreed with measured dact, suggesting that the surface tension lowering effect due to organics and the enhancement of bulk hygroscopicity at high RH due to sparingly soluble or polymeric compounds were small. The results suggest that CCN activity of sulfate-rich aerosol particles is predicted well in regional and global aerosol models without incorporating these effects