Insights into reactive oxygen species formation induced by water-soluble organic compounds and transition metals using spectroscopic method

Tianyi Zhao; Yu Yan; Bian Zhou; Xuezhen Zhong; Xiaoyu Hu; Lijia Zhang; Peng Huo; Kang Xiao; Yuanxun Zhang; Yang Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jes.2022.02.022

Insights into reactive oxygen species formation induced by water-soluble organic compounds and transition metals using spectroscopic method

J Environ Sci (China). 2023 Feb:124:835-845. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.02.022. Epub 2022 Feb 27.

Authors

Tianyi Zhao¹, Yu Yan¹, Bian Zhou¹, Xuezhen Zhong¹, Xiaoyu Hu¹, Lijia Zhang², Peng Huo¹, Kang Xiao¹, Yuanxun Zhang³, Yang Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China.
² Resource and Environmental Branch, China National Institute of Standardization, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China.
³ College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China; Beijing Yanshan Earth Critical Zone National Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101400, China; National Engineering Laboratory for VOCs Pollution Control Material & Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101400, China.
⁴ College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China; Beijing Yanshan Earth Critical Zone National Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101400, China; National Engineering Laboratory for VOCs Pollution Control Material & Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101400, China. Electronic address: zhangyang@ucas.ac.cn.

PMID: 36182187
DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.02.022

Abstract

Ambient particulate matter (PM) can cause adverse health effects via their ability to produce Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Water-Soluble Organic Compounds (WSOCs), a complex mixture of organic compounds which usually coexist with Transition Metals (TMs) in PM, have been found to contribute to ROS formation. However, the interaction between WSOCs and TMs and its effect on ROS generation are still unknown. In this study, we examined the ROS concentrations of V, Zn, Suwannee River Fulvic Acid (SRFA), Suwannee River Humic Acid (SRHA) and the mixtures of V/Zn and SRFA/SRHA by using a cell-free 2',7'-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH) assay. The results showed that V or Zn synergistically promoted ROS generated by SRFA, but had an antagonistic effect on ROS generated by SRHA. Fluorescence quenching experiments indicated that V and Zn were more prone to form stable complexes with aromatic humic acid-like component (C1) and fulvic acid-like component (C3) in SRFA and SRHA. Results suggested that the underlying mechanism involving the fulvic acid-like component in SRFA more tending to complex with TMs to facilitate ROS generation through π electron transfer. Our work showed that the complexing ability and complexing stability of atmospheric PM organics with metals could significantly affect ROS generation. It is recommended that the research deploying multiple analytical methods to quantify the impact of PM components on public health and environment is needed in the future.

Keywords: Excitation-emission matrix; Reactive oxygen species; Transition metals; Water-soluble organic carbons.

MeSH terms

Humic Substances* / analysis
Organic Chemicals
Particulate Matter / chemistry
Reactive Oxygen Species / chemistry
Water*

Substances

Humic Substances
Organic Chemicals
Particulate Matter
Reactive Oxygen Species
Water