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Aqueous secondary formation substantially contributes to hydrophilic organophosphate esters in aerosols

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Aqueous secondary formation substantially contributes to hydrophilic organophosphate esters in aerosols. / Lv, Shaojun; Tian, LeLe; Zhao, Shizhen et al.
In: Nature Communications, Vol. 16, No. 1, 4463, 14.05.2025.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Lv, S, Tian, L, Zhao, S, Jones, KC, Chen, D, Zhong, G, Li, J, Xu, B, Peng, P & Zhang, G 2025, 'Aqueous secondary formation substantially contributes to hydrophilic organophosphate esters in aerosols', Nature Communications, vol. 16, no. 1, 4463. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59361-6

APA

Lv, S., Tian, L., Zhao, S., Jones, K. C., Chen, D., Zhong, G., Li, J., Xu, B., Peng, P., & Zhang, G. (2025). Aqueous secondary formation substantially contributes to hydrophilic organophosphate esters in aerosols. Nature Communications, 16(1), Article 4463. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59361-6

Vancouver

Lv S, Tian L, Zhao S, Jones KC, Chen D, Zhong G et al. Aqueous secondary formation substantially contributes to hydrophilic organophosphate esters in aerosols. Nature Communications. 2025 May 14;16(1):4463. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59361-6

Author

Lv, Shaojun ; Tian, LeLe ; Zhao, Shizhen et al. / Aqueous secondary formation substantially contributes to hydrophilic organophosphate esters in aerosols. In: Nature Communications. 2025 ; Vol. 16, No. 1.

Bibtex

@article{4c34aead297a4a7c814169386eae33ea,
title = "Aqueous secondary formation substantially contributes to hydrophilic organophosphate esters in aerosols",
abstract = "Chemicals of emerging concern (CECs), like organophosphate esters (OPEs), are toxic substances threatening human and wildlife health. Yet the atmospheric transformation of CECs remains poorly understood. Here we combine field measurements and partitioning models to reveal that OPEs could be enhanced by aqueous-phase processes in aerosols. We show that hydrophobic OPEs are absorbed favorably into the organic phase, whereas hydrophilic OPEs preferably partition into the aqueous phase. We provide field evidence that enhanced aqueous secondary formation of OPEs occurs in winter, and its magnitude is strongly dependent on aerosol water content. We suggest that dissolved inorganic salts and transition metals in aerosols positively impact the formation of particle-bound hydrophilic OPEs, by facilitating aqueous partitioning and/or oxidation. Our findings highlight the important role of aqueous oxidation chemistry for the fate of CECs in the atmosphere, urging better consideration of transformation products in future risk assessment and chemical management.",
author = "Shaojun Lv and LeLe Tian and Shizhen Zhao and Jones, {Kevin C.} and Duohong Chen and Guangcai Zhong and Jun Li and Buqing Xu and Ping{\textquoteright}an Peng and Gan Zhang",
year = "2025",
month = may,
day = "14",
doi = "10.1038/s41467-025-59361-6",
language = "English",
volume = "16",
journal = "Nature Communications",
issn = "2041-1723",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Aqueous secondary formation substantially contributes to hydrophilic organophosphate esters in aerosols

AU - Lv, Shaojun

AU - Tian, LeLe

AU - Zhao, Shizhen

AU - Jones, Kevin C.

AU - Chen, Duohong

AU - Zhong, Guangcai

AU - Li, Jun

AU - Xu, Buqing

AU - Peng, Ping’an

AU - Zhang, Gan

PY - 2025/5/14

Y1 - 2025/5/14

N2 - Chemicals of emerging concern (CECs), like organophosphate esters (OPEs), are toxic substances threatening human and wildlife health. Yet the atmospheric transformation of CECs remains poorly understood. Here we combine field measurements and partitioning models to reveal that OPEs could be enhanced by aqueous-phase processes in aerosols. We show that hydrophobic OPEs are absorbed favorably into the organic phase, whereas hydrophilic OPEs preferably partition into the aqueous phase. We provide field evidence that enhanced aqueous secondary formation of OPEs occurs in winter, and its magnitude is strongly dependent on aerosol water content. We suggest that dissolved inorganic salts and transition metals in aerosols positively impact the formation of particle-bound hydrophilic OPEs, by facilitating aqueous partitioning and/or oxidation. Our findings highlight the important role of aqueous oxidation chemistry for the fate of CECs in the atmosphere, urging better consideration of transformation products in future risk assessment and chemical management.

AB - Chemicals of emerging concern (CECs), like organophosphate esters (OPEs), are toxic substances threatening human and wildlife health. Yet the atmospheric transformation of CECs remains poorly understood. Here we combine field measurements and partitioning models to reveal that OPEs could be enhanced by aqueous-phase processes in aerosols. We show that hydrophobic OPEs are absorbed favorably into the organic phase, whereas hydrophilic OPEs preferably partition into the aqueous phase. We provide field evidence that enhanced aqueous secondary formation of OPEs occurs in winter, and its magnitude is strongly dependent on aerosol water content. We suggest that dissolved inorganic salts and transition metals in aerosols positively impact the formation of particle-bound hydrophilic OPEs, by facilitating aqueous partitioning and/or oxidation. Our findings highlight the important role of aqueous oxidation chemistry for the fate of CECs in the atmosphere, urging better consideration of transformation products in future risk assessment and chemical management.

U2 - 10.1038/s41467-025-59361-6

DO - 10.1038/s41467-025-59361-6

M3 - Journal article

VL - 16

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

SN - 2041-1723

IS - 1

M1 - 4463

ER -