nitrogen-dioxide and isoprene

Determination of dominant chemical pathways toward the formation of nocturnal secondary organic aerosols (SOA) remains ambiguous by which nitrogen oxides (NO

Topics: Aerosols; Air Pollutants; Nitrates; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone

The formation of a di-tert-alkyl nitroxide has been observed by Electron Spin Resonance during the exposure of coenzyme CoQ(10), in both the oxidized and reduced forms, to nitrogen dioxide (˙NO(2)) or to nitric oxide (˙NO) in the presence of oxygen. The same kind of nitroxide has been observed also with CoQ(1), CoQ(3) or with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-2-butene, chosen as model compounds. In all cases, the formation of the nitroxide may be justified only by admitting the involvement of the isoprenic chain of the coenzymes and in particular the addition of ˙NO(2) to the double bond. A mechanism which accounts for the formation of the nitroxide as well as the other compounds observed in the reactions is proposed and confirmed by a spectroscopic investigation (FT-IR, (1)H NMR, X-ray analysis) and by ESI-MS.

Topics: Butadienes; Hemiterpenes; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; Nitric Oxide; Nitrogen Dioxide; Oxidation-Reduction; Pentanes; Ubiquinone

More than half the world's rainforest has been lost to agriculture since the Industrial Revolution. Among the most widespread tropical crops is oil palm (Elaeis guineensis): global production now exceeds 35 million tonnes per year. In Malaysia, for example, 13% of land area is now oil palm plantation, compared with 1% in 1974. There are enormous pressures to increase palm oil production for food, domestic products, and, especially, biofuels. Greater use of palm oil for biofuel production is predicated on the assumption that palm oil is an "environmentally friendly" fuel feedstock. Here we show, using measurements and models, that oil palm plantations in Malaysia directly emit more oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds than rainforest. These compounds lead to the production of ground-level ozone (O(3)), an air pollutant that damages human health, plants, and materials, reduces crop productivity, and has effects on the Earth's climate. Our measurements show that, at present, O(3) concentrations do not differ significantly over rainforest and adjacent oil palm plantation landscapes. However, our model calculations predict that if concentrations of oxides of nitrogen in Borneo are allowed to reach those currently seen over rural North America and Europe, ground-level O(3) concentrations will reach 100 parts per billion (10(9)) volume (ppbv) and exceed levels known to be harmful to human health. Our study provides an early warning of the urgent need to develop policies that manage nitrogen emissions if the detrimental effects of palm oil production on air quality and climate are to be avoided.

Topics: Agriculture; Air Pollution; Aircraft; Arecaceae; Butadienes; Geography; Hemiterpenes; Monoterpenes; Nitric Oxide; Nitrogen; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Palm Oil; Pentanes; Peracetic Acid; Plant Oils; Time Factors; Tropical Climate

Ozone reacts with terpenes, common hydrocarbons in cleaning and consumer products as well as the ambient environment, to form particle- and gas-phase products; these have been shown to cause sensory irritation and airflow limitation in mice during single exposures. Isoprene, a hemiterpene emitted from both plants and animals as a bioeffluent, induces the largest effects. This study evaluated the effects of repeated exposures to isoprene oxidation products (OPs) on airway irritation, airflow limitation, and airway responsiveness. A secondary objective was to evaluate a genetic influence by examining multiple murine strains. Six strains (A/J, AKR/J, BALB/c, Swiss Webster, C57Bl/6, and C3H/HeN; total n = 35) were exposed to isoprene oxidation products (1080 +/- 155 ppb isoprene + 3227 +/- 157 ppb ozone at admixing) for 3 h/day for 4 consecutive days. Respiratory parameters were monitored on days 1 and 4 via head-out plethysmography, and airway responsiveness to aerosolized methacholine was evaluated 24 h before the first exposure and immediately after the fourth exposure. Sensory irritation was observed during exposure, as evidenced by a reduction in respiratory frequency (f). A reduction in peak expiratory flow normalized for tidal volume (PEF/VT) also occurred, indicating an airflow limitation effect. Marked enhancement of the effects on f and PEF/VT was observed with repeated exposures, suggesting a cumulative effect. Frequency was reduced from 46.0 +/- 2.3% of baseline during exposure 1 to 34.2 +/- 2.1% during exposure 4 (p =.00002; pooled values for all strains). Similarly, PEF/VT decreased from 75.6 +/- 3.9% of baseline during exposure 1 to 53.1 +/- 3.7% during exposure 4 (p <.00001). A significant reduction in airway responsiveness was observed following repeated exposures in most strains. Interstrain differences in responses were noted, indicating a genetic component. These findings have important implications for indoor environments, where isoprene concentrations can be high in buildings with high occupant densities. The findings are also relevant to outdoor environments, where isoprene emissions from vegetation lead to the formation of isoprene OPs, which may partition onto existing particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere to contribute to secondary organic aerosol. Further, the genetic variability observed in the mouse strains examined suggests that interindividual differences in response may also exist in human populations, which may help to exp

Topics: Animals; Butadienes; Hemiterpenes; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Nitrogen Dioxide; Oxidation-Reduction; Ozone; Pentanes; Respiratory System; Species Specificity

We evaluated the airway irritation of isoprene, isoprene/ozone, and isoprene/ozone/nitrogen dioxide mixtures using a mouse bioassay, from which we calculated sensory irritation, bronchial constriction, and pulmonary irritation. We observed significant sensory irritation (approximately 50% reduction of mean respiratory rate) by dynamically exposing the mice, over 30 min, to mixtures of isoprene and O3 or isoprene, O3, and NO2. The starting concentrations were approximately 4 ppm O3 and 500 ppm isoprene (+ approximately 4 ppm NO2. The reaction mixtures after approximately 30 sec contained < 0.2 ppm O3. Addition of the effects of the residual reactants and the identified stable irritant products (formaldehyde, formic acid, acetic acid, methacrolein, and methylvinyl ketone) could explain only partially the observed sensory irritation. This suggests that one or more strong airway irritants were formed. It is thus possible that oxidation reactions of common unsaturated compounds may be relevant for indoor air quality.

Topics: Air Pollution, Indoor; Animals; Biological Assay; Butadienes; Hemiterpenes; Mice; Nitrogen Dioxide; Oxidants, Photochemical; Oxidation-Reduction; Ozone; Pentanes; Respiration