Abstract
Recently, the nanotechnology may promote the development of the industry. However, there are concerns that its potential negative impacts on the environment and human health. The objective of this study is to use the electrical low-pressure cascade impactor (ELPI) to collect ambient particles. Two different sampling sites are located at Yong-An Industrial Park, Kaohsiung County and Hsinchu science park, Hsinchu city, Taiwan, respectively. The characteristics of nanoparticles would be identified by the Ion Chromatography (IC) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) and x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Besides, the effect of different dose of ZnO ultrafine, fine and coarse particles treated on A549 cells (Human lung alveolar epithelium carcinoma) would be studied. The relative biological response would be discussed by using some assays (MTT, LDH, GSH and IL-8). The results showed that number concentration of nanoparticles at day were more than night. It seemed that most of nucleation proceeded at daytime due to the photochemical reaction. However, the total concentrations of particles with 0.75~1 μm diameter formed by accumulation mode at night were more than at day. The condensation and coagulation of particles might be enhanced at night due to the lower temperature and higher relative humidity. High EF values (Zn, Pb, Cu and Mn) of particles indicated that theses Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn contained in the particles were emitted from anthropogenic source (industry or traffic). Na and K only were found that have high EF value at Yong-An Industrial Park. Owing to the fact that Yong-An Industrial Park is located more nearly the Taiwan sea strait than Hsinchu Science park. The result of IC showed that most of nitrous ions would be oxidized to nitrate ions during particle growth process. The result of XAS showed that approximately 39% CuO, 34% CuSO4 and 27% Cu(NO3)2 were existed in the fine particles collected at Hsinchu Science Park. Not all of sulfate or nitrate ions were in the form of ammonium compounds. Different size and concentration of ZnO particles would cause the variation of biological response of A549 cells. Due to higher surface area of ultrafine ZnO particles, there are more biological responses ( proinflammation and oxidative stress) measured from A549 cells treated by 100 μg/ml of ultrafine ZnO particles after 5 hr than by fine and coarse ZnO particles.