Chemical characterization and oxidative potential of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in size-resolved particulate matter across industrial and traffic stations

Shahzada Amani Room; Po Jui Chen; Zhi Yu Chen; Yu Ju Shih; Shih Yu Pan; Yuan-Cheng Hsu; Ta-Chih Hsiao; Yu Chieh Ting; Charless C-K Chou; Chien-Hou Wu; Kai Hsien Chi

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2025.121747

Chemical characterization and oxidative potential of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in size-resolved particulate matter across industrial and traffic stations

Environ Res. 2025 Aug 15;279(Pt 1):121747. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.121747. Epub 2025 May 2.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan.
² Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Education, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
³ National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan, 330, Taiwan.
⁴ Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
⁵ Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
⁶ Institute of Analytical and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
⁷ Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan. Electronic address: khchi@nycu.edu.tw.

PMID: 40320031
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.121747

Abstract

This study is the first to investigate polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) across multiple particulate matter (PM) sizes (PM_1.0, PM_2.5, TSP) in Taiwan, focusing on spatio-seasonal variations, chemical composition, sources, and oxidative potential (OP) utilizing Real-time Cell Analysis (RTCA) and the Dithiothreitol (DTT) assay. PM samples were collected from the Northern Industrial Station (NIS: PM) in Taoyuan, and the Central Industrial (CIS: PM_2.5) and Central Traffic (CTS: PM_2.5) stations in Taichung (2022-2023). Elevated PCDD/F, PCB, and PCN levels were observed at NIS during winter, with PM_2.5 and PM_1.0 comprising 90 % and 50 % of TSP, respectively, driven by local emissions and meteorological influences. PCDD/Fs peaked in winter at CTS (7.16 ± 1.64 fg TEQ_WHO/m³) and in autumn at CIS (8.29 ± 3.21 fg TEQ_WHO/m³), while PCBs were highest in summer (CIS: 0.151 ± 0.212 fg TEQ_WHO/m³; CTS: 0.006 ± 0.013 fg TEQ_WHO/m³), likely due to temperature-driven volatilization. Notably, PCNs exhibited no clear seasonal trends. Cytotoxicity assays revealed a size-dependent toxicity gradient (PM_1.0: 71.8 % > PM_2.5: 62.1 % > TSP: 51.9 %), with PM_2.5 toxicity consistent across sources (P = 0.58). DTT assays indicated higher OP at Northern Taiwan's industrial site on weekdays, whereas Central Taiwan's industrial and traffic sites showed no substantial variation (p > 0.05). Markedly, NO₃^- strongly correlated with OP across all PM sizes, while Cu and Cr were linked to OPv, and Mn and Cr to OPm. These findings highlight seasonal and source-driven PM toxicity, with smaller particles posing greater health risks, requiring targeted mitigation.

Keywords: Cytotoxicity; DTT assay; Industrial emissions; Oxidative potential; Particulate matter; Traffic emissions.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Environmental Monitoring*
Humans
Oxidation-Reduction
Particle Size
Particulate Matter* / analysis
Persistent Organic Pollutants*
Polychlorinated Biphenyls / analysis
Seasons
Taiwan
Vehicle Emissions / analysis

Substances

Particulate Matter
Air Pollutants
Persistent Organic Pollutants
Vehicle Emissions
Polychlorinated Biphenyls