Themed collection Outstanding Papers 2024 – Environmental Science: Atmospheres

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that require attention in sampling, analysis, and characterization in both indoor and outdoor air pollution to mitigate the potential dangers they pose to public health and the economy.

Carbon monoxide is a priority pollutant that is suitable as an indicator for assessing indoor air quality. Monitoring should preferably be embedded in an intelligent network of different sensors.

Different processes can lead to high electrical field strengths in snow and ice in polar regions with the potential to initiate free radical processes and a number of other chemical modifications.

This article reviews scientific evidence for the potential environmental impacts of stratospheric aerosol injection, a form of solar radiation geoengineering.

Cleaning detergents are a source of numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are highly reactive towards ozone leading to the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in indoor environments.

Immersion freezing temperatures of substrate-deposited lipid particles depend on solubility and viscosity.

This study contributes insights into the air quality challenges faced by two rapidly urbanising cities in Uganda and lays the groundwork for informed decision-making to protect public health and promote a sustainable environment.

A modified framework for efficiently modeling OA, considering POA evaporation and SOA formation from VOCs, IVOCs, and SVOCs was established, showing substantial improved model performance.

The study investigates mercury levels in PM_2.5 in regions of Rio de Janeiro: urban areas, areas affected by sugar cane burning, and an environmental reserve. It highlights seasonal variations and pollution contributions, both local and transboundary.

Indoor BrC-containing cooking organic aerosols (BrCOA) can act as sensitizers generating the first excited state of molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, under indoor lighting conditions. Sustained singlet oxygen steady-state levels lead to prolonged oxidation of indoor aerosols impacting air quality.

The autofluorescence of airborne microplastics is detected online on a single particle level down to 500 nm particle size.

New estimates indicate that current reserves would 'bust' IPCC RCP budgets – yet companies still explore and develop new reserves. Why is this and what can governments do about it?

This study investigates the effects of temperature and relative humidity on the formation of secondary organic aerosol from Δ³-carene, a prevalent monoterpene in boreal forests.