Ecotoxicological investigation and chemical characterization of the organic fraction in urban particulate matter and its influence on aquatic systems

Project duration: 2021–2022

Funding: RobustNature SynergyFunds

Princinple investigators

• Prof. Dr. Alexander Vogel, Atmospheric Environmental Analytics, Goethe University Frankfurt
• Prof. Dr. Henner Hollert, Evolutionary Ecology & Environmental Toxicology (E³T), Goethe University Frankfurt

Project coordination

• Marc Wollenweber M.Sc., Evolutionary Ecology & Environmental Toxicology (E³T), Goethe University Frankfurt

Project partners

• Prof. Dr. Joachim Curtius, Experimental Atmospheric Research, Goethe University Frankfurt
• Prof. Dr. Werner Brack, Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and Goethe University Frankfurt
• Prof. Dr. Jörg Oehlmann, Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt
• Prof. Dr. Petra Döll, Institute for Physical Geography, Goethe University Frankfurt
• Prof. Dr. Bernd Grünewald, Bee Research Institute, Goethe University Frankfurt

Project description

Air pollution is overall a major global problem and a serious thread for humans and the environment. In particular, PM_2.5, one important fraction of airborne particulate matter (PM) has caught increasing attention in the scientific community. Due to its small size PM_2.5 has a wide array of exposure pathways. PM_2.5 consists not only of primary organic aerosols (PAOs; e.g., particles formed during incomplete combustion of organic matter) but largely of secondary organic aerosols (SAOs), organic compounds formed through oxidation of gas-phase organic compounds and condensation of pre-existing airborne particles. Although considerable resources have been spent on air pollution research and PM_2.5 in particular one major factor has been neglected: It's fate in aquatic systems and impact of aquatic biota. Airborne particles can enter aquatic systems by various means and components of PM_2.5 have shown to cause serious adverse effects in aquatic biota. However, despite decades of air pollution research there is a significant knowledge gap regarding fate, behavior and exposure of airborne PM_2.5 in aquatic systems. Here, we propose a proof-of-concept study that seeks to elucidate the relationship between air and water pollution on the example of urban PM after entering aquatic systems.