ATMOSPHERIC NANOPARTICLES

Abstract

Atmospheric nanoparticles are of growing interest to many investigators for two main reasons. First, nanoparticles are important precursors for the formation of larger particles, which are known to strongly influence global climate, atmospheric chemistry, visibility, and the regional and global transport of pollutants and biological nutrients. Second, atmospheric nanoparticles may play critical roles in the deleterious human health effects associated with air pollution. In addition to these two well-recognized roles, nanoparticles may also significantly influence the chemistry of the atmosphere. Because their composition and reactivity can be quite different from larger particles, the presence of nanoparticles may open novel chemical...