https://hdl.handle.net/11000/30117 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:46:25 GMT 2026-04-03T17:46:25Z https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38831 Título : Indoor PM10 from fireplace, wood and coal stove: morphology, composition, and oxidative potential in real residential settings Autor : Vicente, Estela D.; Charres, Isabella; Cipoli, Yago; Calvo, Ana I.; Fraile, Roberto; Candeias, Carla; Rocha, Fernando; Galindo, Nuria; Yubero, Eduardo; Alves, Célia Resumen : Residential combustion of solid fuels is a dominant source of indoor particulate matter (PM), with significant implications for human health. This study investigates the physicochemical properties and oxidative potential (OP) of indoor PM10 generated during the operation of different combustion appliances (woodstove, fireplace and coal stove) and fuels in real residential settings. Indoor and concurrent outdoor samples were analysed for water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), elemental composition, particle morphology, and OP using both dithiothreitol (DTT) and ascorbic acid (AA) assays. Biomass combustion, especially in the fireplace, resulted in the highest indoor PM10, OC, and WSOC levels, with WSOC/OC ratios reaching up to 0.84, suggesting a large contribution from oxygenated organics. Morphological analysis by SEM-EDS revealed a mixture of carbonaceous soot, mineral ash, and spherical fly ash particles, with clear fuel dependence. Elemental analysis showed higher Ca, Cl, K, S and Mn concentrations during woodstove combustion, while indoor samples from coal burning displayed lower levels for most elements. The OPV of indoor samples was consistently higher during wood combustion compared with coal or background air, showing significant correlations with OC, WSOC, and potassium. Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:06:59 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38831 2025-12-22T11:06:59Z https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38830 Título : The impact of PM2.5 sources on the single scattering albedo at a rural site in the south-western Mediterranean region Autor : Nicolás, J. F.; Crespo, J.; Yubero, E.; Alfosea-Simón, M.; Clemente, A.; Gómez-Sánchez, N. Resumen : In the present work, the contribution of PM2.5 sources to light absorption (σap,520) and scattering (σsp,525), as well as their impact on SSA values, was analysed. For this, measurements of aerosol optical properties and PM2.5 chemical composition were conducted at a rural site in southeastern Spain. The sources that significantly contributed to light extinction were: road traffic (TR), biomass burning (BB), mineral dust (MD), and a secondary aerosol source (SA). BB accounted for nearly 50 % of the absorption coefficient (λ = 520 nm), while the SA source exhibited the largest contribution to the scattering process (~47 % at 525 nm). MD showed the smallest contribution to σap,520 and σsp,525, although its contribution significantly increased during Saharan dust events (SDEs). SSA daily values showed a clear dependence on the contribution of individual sources to PM2.5 concentrations. SSA values (λ = 525 nm) exceeding 0.90 were observed when contributions from secondary aerosols were greater than 50 %, while the SSA decreased with the increase in the contribution from road traffic. The contribution from BB was fairly constant for almost all SSA values, although high SSA values (>0.90) were observed when the contribution from this source was very low. The SSA showed a clear spectral dependence that varied according to the aerosol type. So, for BB aerosols the SSA decreased with wavelength, while for mineral dust the opposite trend was observed. Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:06:30 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38830 2025-12-22T11:06:30Z https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38829 Título : Temporal variability of PM10 and PM2.5 in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Autor : Matos-Díaz, Jennifer; Galindo, Nuria; Nicolás, José F. Resumen : Las concentraciones de material particulado (PM, por su sigla en inglés) en el Caribe resultan de complejas interacciones entre fuentes naturales transfronterizas y emisiones locales antrópicas y naturales. El presente estudio ofrece un análisis de las concentraciones de PM10 y PM2.5 durante un periodo de cinco años en Puerto Plata, una ciudad turística costera que alberga una significativa actividad portuaria y de cruceros. Las concentraciones anuales promedio alcanzaron valores de 35.0 ± 16.4 μg m–3 para PM10 y 8.8 ± 5.1 μg m–3 para PM2.5, superando las directrices anuales de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) en factores de 2.3 y 1.8, respectivamente. Se registraron valores de la relación PM2.5/PM10 inferiores a 0.4 en el 88.6 % de los días del periodo de estudio, lo que refleja un dominio de partículas gruesas condicionado por intrusiones de polvo sahariano y por las emisiones de aerosoles marinos. La baja correlación entre PM10 y PM2.5 (ρ = 0.61) indica que provienen de fuentes distintas y presentan un comportamiento atmosférico diferente. Los episodios dominados por partículas finas (relación PM2.5/PM10 ≥ 0.6) fueron poco frecuentes (2.3 %) y estuvieron asociados principalmente a fuentes locales de combustión, tales como espectáculos pirotécnicos durante eventos turísticos. La dinámica estacional mostró picos pronunciados de PM10 durante el verano (junio-agosto) debido al transporte de polvo sahariano. Por el contrario, las concentraciones de PM2.5 presentaron una variabilidad estacional limitada, reflejo de emisiones locales constantes de partículas finas. Los umbrales diarios establecidos por la OMS se superaron en el 19 % de los días para PM10 y en el 7 % para PM2.5, subrayando riesgos asociados a la exposición crónica. Particulate matter (PM) concentrations in the Caribbean result from complex interactions between transboundary natural sources and local anthropogenic and natural emissions. This study presents a five-year analysis of PM10 and PM2.5 levels in Puerto Plata, a coastal tourist city that hosts significant port and cruise ship activity. Annual average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were 35.0 ± 16.4 and 8.8 ± 5.1 μg m–3, respectively, exceeding annual guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO) by factors of 2.3 and 1.8, respectively. PM2.5/PM10 ratios below 0.4 occurred on 88.6% of days during the study period, with a global average of 0.27, indicating a dominance of coarse particles driven by Saharan dust intrusions and sea spray emissions. The weak correlation between PM10 and PM2.5 (ρ = 0.61) suggests different emission sources and atmospheric behavior. Fine-particle episodes (PM2.5/PM10 ratio ≥ 0.6) were sporadic (2.3%) and primarily associated with localized combustion sources, such as fireworks displays during tourism-related events. Seasonal dynamics revealed marked PM10 peaks during summer associated with dust transport (June-August). Conversely, PM2.5 concentrations showed a limited seasonal variability, reflecting steady local emissions of fine PM. WHO’s 24-h thresholds were exceeded on 19% of days for PM10 and 7% for PM2.5, underscoring chronic exposure risks. Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:06:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38829 2025-12-22T11:06:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38828 Título : Twenty years of air pollution in eastern Spain: long-term trends and cycles Autor : Llinares, Marina; Galindo, Nuria; Yubero, Eduardo; Nicolás, José Francisco; Crespo, Javier; Caballero, Sandra Resumen : The present study examines daily, weekly and seasonal patterns, as well as long-term trends in nitrogen oxides, ozone and particulate matter ( PM10, PM2.5, and PM1) concentrations in the eastern Spanish Mediterranean coast. Daily cycles were also analysed as a function of the day of the week and season of the year. For this, data from urban, suburban and rural sites of the Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network from 2000 to 2019 were used. In general, daily, weekly and seasonal cycles for NOx, PM2.5 and PM10 were mainly driven by traffic emissions, meteorological conditions and the variability of the mixing layer height. Alternatively, solar radiation intensity was a key factor, although not the only one, controlling O3 concentrations. Some differences in the variability of pollutant concentrations at different time scales depending on the type and specific characteristics of the monitoring station were found. For instance, all urban stations showed an increasing O3 long-term trend, while heterogeneous results were obtained for suburban and rural sites. Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:05:32 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38828 2025-12-22T11:05:32Z https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38827 Título : Estimation of light absorption by secondary brown carbon during agricultural residues burning Autor : Domínguez, B.; Nicolás, J. F.; Mantilla, E.; Gimeno, C.; Borrás, E.; Ródenas, M.; Vera, T.; Soler, R.; Alfosea-Simón, M.; Yubero, E.; Crespo, J.; Galindo, N.; Clemente, A.; Muñoz, A. Resumen : Measurements of absorption optical properties (σap,λ, AAE) and PM10 concentrations were conducted near the rice fields of L’Albufera Natural Park (Eastern Spain) with the aim of assessing light absorption by secondary BrC generated from the burning of rice straw residues. Sampling was performed in autumn 2023. The measurement period was divided into three sub-periods (P1, P2 and P3) depending on the number of burning spots and the prevailing weather conditions. P2 was the period most affected by biomass burning (BB) events. During this period, hourly values of σap,λ and AAE were above 100 Mm􀀀 1 and 2.0 and BrC absorption was higher than BC absorption in the UV spectral range. Secondary BrC concentrations were estimated using the EC-tracer method, and the R-squared (MRS) and 25 % percentile (P25) approaches were applied to the determination of (σap,λ/ BC880)pri. Secondary BrC concentrations calculated by the P25 method were significantly higher than those obtained by the MRS approach for P2, which lead to σBrC-SEC values four times higher when the P25 method was used. The differences in the results obtained by both procedures were attributed to the formation of secondary BrC generated from the rapid oxidation of semi-volatile organic aerosols emitted by BB. The contribution of this secondary BrC to light absorption by BrC at 370 nm was 47 % for P2. Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:04:38 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38827 2025-12-22T11:04:38Z https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38826 Título : Elemental and carbonaceous composition of PM10 and its oxidative potential in schools in Luanda Autor : Alves, Celia; Vicente, Estela D.; Nunes, Teresa; Cipoli, Yago; Charres, Isabella; Yubero, Eduardo; Galindo, Nuria; Rysavý, Jirí; Leitao, Anabela Resumen : Chemical speciation and oxidative potential (OP) analysis of airborne particles in African schools has not been previously conducted. In this study, daily atmospheric particulate matter (PM10) sampling was carried out in classrooms of four primary schools in Luanda, Angola. Samples were analysed for elemental composition, organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). OP was measured using two acellular assays: dithiothreitol (DTT) and ascorbic acid (AA). PM10 concentrations ranged from 10.2 to 183 μg m􀀀 3, exceeding the WHO guideline on ~70 % of days, with weekday averages (61.0 μg m􀀀 3) more than twice those recorded on Saturdays (26.2 μg m􀀀 3). Carbonaceous constituents accounted for 21.3 % of PM10 mass, with a consistent OC/EC ratio of 2.26 ± 0.74. On average, 77 % of OC was estimated to be secondary, while WSOC/ OC ratios ranged from 0.15 to 0.90, averaging 0.42 ± 0.18. The most abundant elements were Ca, S, Cl, and K, with the highest concentrations observed in a school affected by structural issues and proximity to an unpaved road. Enrichment factor analysis revealed extremely high anthropogenic contributions for Br, S, Cl, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu, V, and Cr, while correlations between elements indicated major sources such as resuspended mineral dust, vehicular emissions, fuel combustion, and industrial activities, with additional contributions from road dust, construction sites, and sea spray. Average OPAA values ranged from 1.36 to 2.21 nmol min􀀀1 m􀀀3, while OPDTT values spanned from 0.507 to 0.854 nmol min􀀀1 m􀀀3. OC, WSOC, and several transition metals were key con tributors to OPDTT, whereas OPAA showed significant correlations only with Ni and Sr. Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:03:52 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11000/38826 2025-12-22T11:03:52Z https://hdl.handle.net/11000/36926 Título : Estimation of light absorption by secondary brown carbon during agricultural residues burning Autor : Dominguez, B.; Nicolás, J.F.; Mantilla, E.; Gimeno, C.; Borrás, E.; Ródenas, M.; Vera, T.; Soler, R.; Alfonsea-Simón, M.; Yubero, E.; Crespo, J.; Galindo, N.; Clemente, A.; Muñoz, A. Resumen : Measurements of absorption optical properties (σap,λ, AAE) and PM10 concentrations were conducted near the rice fields of L'Albufera Natural Park (Eastern Spain) with the aim of assessing light absorption by secondary BrC generated from the burning of rice straw residues. Sampling was performed in autumn 2023. The measurement period was divided into three sub-periods (P1, P2 and P3) depending on the number of burning spots and the prevailing weather conditions. P2 was the period most affected by biomass burning (BB) events. During this period, hourly values of σap,λ and AAE were above 100 Mm−1 and 2.0 and BrC absorption was higher than BC absorption in the UV spectral range. Secondary BrC concentrations were estimated using the EC-tracer method, and the R-squared (MRS) and 25 % percentile (P25) approaches were applied to the determination of (σap,λ/BC880)pri. Secondary BrC concentrations calculated by the P25 method were significantly higher than those obtained by the MRS approach for P2, which lead to σBrC-SEC values four times higher when the P25 method was used. The differences in the results obtained by both procedures were attributed to the formation of secondary BrC generated from the rapid oxidation of semi-volatile organic aerosols emitted by BB. The contribution of this secondary BrC to light absorption by BrC at 370 nm was 47 % for P2. Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:05:07 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11000/36926 2025-07-24T08:05:07Z https://hdl.handle.net/11000/35269 Título : Enhancing Greenhouse Efficiency: Integrating IoT and Reinforcement Learning for Optimized Climate Control Autor : Platero Horcajadas, Manuel; Pardo Pina, Sofía; Cámara-Zapata, José-María; Brenes Carranza, José Antonio; ferrández-pastor, francisco-javier Resumen : Automated systems, regulated by algorithmic protocols and predefined set-points for feedback control, require the oversight and fine tuning of skilled technicians. This necessity is particularly pronounced in automated greenhouses, where optimal environmental conditions depend on the specialized knowledge of dedicated technicians, emphasizing the need for expert involvement during installation and maintenance. To address these challenges, this study proposes the integration of data acquisition technologies using Internet of Things (IoT) protocols and optimization services via reinforcement learning (RL) methodologies. The proposed model was tested in an industrial production greenhouse for the cultivation of industrial hemp, applying adapted strategies to the crop, and was guided by an agronomic technician knowledgeable about the plant. The expertise of this technician was crucial in transferring the RL model to a real-world automated greenhouse equipped with IoT technology. The study concludes that the integration of IoT and RL technologies is effective, validating the model’s ability to manage and optimize greenhouse operations efficiently and adapt to different types of crops. Moreover, this integration not only enhances operational efficiency but also reduces the need for constant human intervention, thereby minimizing labor costs and increasing scalability for larger agricultural enterprises. Furthermore, the RL-based control has demonstrated its ability to maintain selected temperatures and achieve energy savings compared to classical control methods Fri, 24 Jan 2025 13:52:53 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11000/35269 2025-01-24T13:52:53Z https://hdl.handle.net/11000/35192 Título : Chemiluminescent fingerprints from airborne particulate matter: A luminol-based assay for the characterization of oxidative potential with kinetical implications Autor : Morozzi, Pietro; Bolelli, Luca; Brattich, Erika; Ferri, Elida Nora; GIROTTI, STEFANO; Sangiorgi, Stefano; Garcia Orza, Jose Antonio; Piñero-García, Francisco; Tositti, Laura Resumen : In this study, a new chemiluminescent method based on the dependence of luminol light emission induced by free radicals in airborne particulate matter (PM) is proposed as a screening assay for the rapid characterization of samples from different sources based on their redox properties. This parameter is considered critical for assessing particulate matter toxicity and its impacts on human health. We propose a cell-free, luminescent assay to evaluate the redox potential of particulate matter directly on the filters employed to collect it. A joint chemometric approach based on Principal Component Analysis and Hotelling Analysis was applied to quickly sort out ambient particulate samples with a significantly different light emission profile caused by Luminol reaction. Based on Spearman correlation analysis, the association of the samples light emission intensity with their chemical composition and emission sources was attempted. The overall methodology was tested with certified reference materials and applied to two series of particulate matter samples previously subjected to thorough chemical speciation and subsequent source apportionment. The results show the effectiveness of the luminescent method, allowing the quick assessment of particulate matter oxidative potential, but providing further evidence on the complexity of the oxidative potential determination in this kind of samples. The chemometric processing of the whole dataset clearly highlights the distinct behavior among the two series of samples, the certificate standard reference materials, and the blank controls, supporting the suitability of the approach. Thu, 23 Jan 2025 20:17:51 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11000/35192 2025-01-23T20:17:51Z https://hdl.handle.net/11000/35191 Título : Poleward transport of African dust to the Iberian Peninsula organized by a barrier jet and hydraulic jumps: Observations and high-resolution simulation analyses Autor : Dhital, Saroj; Kaplan, Michael Lewis; Garcia Orza, Jose Antonio; Fiedler, Stephanie Resumen : Most air quality stations in Spain exceeded the European Union's daily PM10 limit due to the February 2016 Saharan dust outbreak, which resulted from two successive dust storms in Northwest Africa. This study identifies the meso-β/meso-γ-scale dynamical processes responsible for developing these dust storms using observations and high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry simulations. The results revealed that the first dust storm was associated with a strong barrier jet (BJ). The BJ formed on the southeastern foothills of the Saharan Atlas Mountains (SAM) when an easterly-northeasterly low-level Mediterranean flow was blocked by a stably stratified layer close to the SAM. The BJ intensified just after sunrise on 20 February and the associated near-surface peak winds organized the first dust storm. The second dust storm was linked to a mesoscale gravity wave (MGW) and hydraulic jumps. A long-lived westward propagating MGW was triggered by a downslope flow interacting with the stable layer near the northeastern edge of the Tinrhert Plateau in eastern Algeria. When this MGW crossed the Tademaït Plateau, hydraulic jumps formed on its lee side. The strong winds accompanying these hydraulic jumps formed the second dust storm on 21 February. The lifted dust extended over a depth of 2–3 km in the growing daytime boundary layer and was advected poleward by the southerly/southeasterly mid-tropospheric winds. Our results underline the importance of resolving terrain-induced mesoscale processes to understand dust storm dynamics, which are difficult to represent in coarse-resolution numerical models. Thu, 23 Jan 2025 20:17:07 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11000/35191 2025-01-23T20:17:07Z