Notable impact of urban ventilation corridors on the transport of particle-bound ultrashort-chain perfluoroalkyl substances in the atmosphere
By Anen He, Feifei Li, Juan Li, Fanghan Sun, Han Fang, Xu Sun, Yanli Guo, Hailin Wang, Yawei Wang, and Guibin Jiang
J. Hazard. Mater.
May 26, 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142482
Urbanization is accompanied by a series of potential issues, among which the urban heat island (UHI) effect is a major concern. While urban ventilation corridors play a crucial role in addressing the UHI effect and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution, research on the diffusion mechanism of PM2.5-bound compounds are limited, especially those of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In this work, we analyze the levels of 67 PFAS in PM2.5 along urban ventilation corridors, and utilize air-mass reaction trajectories to study their transport mechanisms. Overall, 23 PFAS involved in atmospheric transport were identified at meteorological stations. The median ΣPFAS concentration in the cold season (274 pg/m3) was significantly higher than that in the warm season (114 pg/m3), with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) being the dominant homologue. Emissions from traditional fluorochemical industries and the use of fluorinated alternatives represented the main sources. Interesting, during the cold season (when prevailing northwesterly winds occur), a marked increase in PM2.5-bound PFAS level was measured at the northwest corner. Trajectory models and potential source contribution functions revealed that high-altitude mountainous terrain in the northwest prevents wind from entering the city. Meanwhile, changes in air pressure led to southeasterly winds, which could carry TFA and PM2.5 northwestward along urban ventilation corridors, contributing 24–45% and 35–38% of the total mass, respectively. This study provides the first insight into the impact of urban ventilation corridors on the migration of particulate PFAS, which is of great significance for understanding local PFAS transport, not release, among urban clusters.
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