Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Effect Of Carbonaceous Nanoparticles On Naturally Occurring Iron Reduction By Carboxylates, Ashleen Reddy

All Master's Theses

The emission of ambient particulate matter (PM) is regulated by many institutions due to the detrimental effects on health, environment and climate; yet many underlying mechanisms of PM reactivity are still not well understood. In the current study, the effect of carbonaceous nanoparticles (CNPs), contained within ultrafine PM (particle diameter ≤ 100 nm), is investigated on naturally occurring processes that increase the abundance of bioavailable iron. Enhancing iron bioavailability (i) increases primary productivity of iron-limited microorganisms, affecting the carbon cycle and global climate, and (ii) increase toxicity of inhaled particles through the associated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Specifically, …