Analysis of PM2.5 inorganic and organic constituents to resolve contributing sources in Seoul, South Korea and Beijing, China and their possible associations with cytokine IL-8

• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117860
• Publication Date: 2023-12-09T13:39:41Z
• Authors: Jieun Park; Kyoung-Hee Lee; Hyewon Kim; Jisu Woo; Jongbae Heo; Kwonho Jeon; Chang-Hoon Lee; Chul-Gyu Yoo; Philip K. Hopke; Petros Koutrakis; Seung-Muk Yi
• Keywords: Air Pollutants; China; Nitrates; Seoul; Interleukin-8; Dust; Carbon; Soil; Beijing; Republic of Korea; Humans; Cytokines; Particulate Matter; Seasons; Environmental Monitoring

China and South Korea are the most polluted countries in East Asia due to significant urbanization extensive industrial activities. As neighboring countries, collaborative management plans maximize public health both can be helpful reducing transboundary air pollution. To support such planning, PM2.5 inorganic organic species were determined simultaneously collected integrated filters. The resulting data used as inputs positive matrix factorization, which identified nine sources at ambient monitoring sites sites. Secondary nitrate, secondary sulfate/oil combustion, soil, mobile, incinerator, biomass burning, carbon (SOC) found sampling Industry I II only Seoul, whereas combustion road dust Beijing. A subset of samples was selected for exposure assessment. expression levels IL-8 significantly higher Beijing (167.7 pg/mL) than Seoul (72.7 pg/mL). associations between chemical constituents its contributing with PM2.5-induced inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-8, IL-8) human bronchial epithelial cells investigated. For soil followed by nitrate burning showed increase production. However, Beijing, exhibited highest association production SOC modest IL-8. one cities, an source having strongest a This study provide scientific basis identifying prioritized control effective mitigation particulate pollution each city thereby improve health.