Istrazivanja Atmosferskih Nanočestica: Pogled Odozdo

Title: Atmospheric Nanoparticle Research: View from Down Under

Istrazivanja Atmosferskih Nanocestice: Pogled Odozdo

Presenter: Dr Zoran Ristovski, International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health (ILAQH), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia.

Nanoparticles are loosely defined as particles with diameters in the range of ~1 nm to 50 or 100 nm. While they are bigger than air molecule (0.3 nm) they are much smaller than the upper limits regulated by ambient air quality standards of 10,000 nm (PM10). Due to their small size they do not contribute large quantities to PM10 mass but they dominate the number concentration and most of its surface area.

Nanoparticles are often considered to be deleterious when they are inhaled or ingested into the human body. They penetrate deeply into the lung, where their large numbers overwhelm defensive mechanisms. They can induce structural changes to lung tissue; promote sensitivity to allergens, and increases mortality.

Besides having detrimental health effects, recently their importance and influence on the global climate has been realised. Bursts of nanometer-sized particles formed from nucleated atmospheric gases and grown to detectable sizes (i.e. nucleation events) have been observed at coastal and marine environments around the world. Such nanoparticles can grow into larger sizes, being able to scatter incoming radiation and contribute a direct and an indirect (via clouds) cooling effect to the Earth’s radiation

This presentation will discuss the latest research trends on atmospheric nanoparticles conducted at the ILAQH, QUT Brisbane, Australia.