It has now clearly been established that atmospheric contaminants, in gas, liquid, and particulate forms, affect the climate, ecosystems, and human health, especially in populated areas where they are present in significant concentrations. Accordingly, substantial research has been carried out during the last decades focusing on chemically characterizing and on identifying the main components and forming processes of these contaminants. Isotope geochemistry has now demonstrated its added value, when combined with other classical chemical approaches, for both identifying the sources and characterizing the processes that control their budget. Isotope systematics usually allow to unambiguously discriminate the emission sources of distinct origins and/or to characterize the specific processes that affect their behaviors.
Humans are now facing the critical challenge of preserving air quality from contamination induced by anthropogenic point and diffuse sources. Addressing this challenge will require a holistic system approach by addressing new issues and emerging contaminants, as well as embedded multiple exposures to ultimately be able to achieve a comprehensive environmental and human health risk assessment.
In this Research Topic, we aim to fill gaps on the application of isotope geochemistry (including measurements of radioactive and stable isotopes ratios of trace elements and organic components) on environmental research by welcoming original contributions on studies developing applications in air contaminant characterization, pollution, environmental changes, as well as modeling or empirical studies aimed at improving our mechanistic understanding of short- and long-term chemical/isotope variations in global atmospheric systems. Submission of inter- and multidisciplinary original research and review papers is also encouraged. Themes of interest include:
• Emerging topics dealing with air quality vulnerability and human impact, including the isotope geochemistry of emerging and chemical contaminants
• Advances in isotope analytical techniques to monitor and identify sources and processes controlling the budget of air contaminants
• Advances in atmospheric process and atmospheric models for investigating air quality vulnerability to human impact using isotope approach
• Analysis of urban growth consequences for air contaminant emissions and management
• Remote sensing applications for air quality vulnerability assessment based on the use of isotope systematics
It has now clearly been established that atmospheric contaminants, in gas, liquid, and particulate forms, affect the climate, ecosystems, and human health, especially in populated areas where they are present in significant concentrations. Accordingly, substantial research has been carried out during the last decades focusing on chemically characterizing and on identifying the main components and forming processes of these contaminants. Isotope geochemistry has now demonstrated its added value, when combined with other classical chemical approaches, for both identifying the sources and characterizing the processes that control their budget. Isotope systematics usually allow to unambiguously discriminate the emission sources of distinct origins and/or to characterize the specific processes that affect their behaviors.
Humans are now facing the critical challenge of preserving air quality from contamination induced by anthropogenic point and diffuse sources. Addressing this challenge will require a holistic system approach by addressing new issues and emerging contaminants, as well as embedded multiple exposures to ultimately be able to achieve a comprehensive environmental and human health risk assessment.
In this Research Topic, we aim to fill gaps on the application of isotope geochemistry (including measurements of radioactive and stable isotopes ratios of trace elements and organic components) on environmental research by welcoming original contributions on studies developing applications in air contaminant characterization, pollution, environmental changes, as well as modeling or empirical studies aimed at improving our mechanistic understanding of short- and long-term chemical/isotope variations in global atmospheric systems. Submission of inter- and multidisciplinary original research and review papers is also encouraged. Themes of interest include:
• Emerging topics dealing with air quality vulnerability and human impact, including the isotope geochemistry of emerging and chemical contaminants
• Advances in isotope analytical techniques to monitor and identify sources and processes controlling the budget of air contaminants
• Advances in atmospheric process and atmospheric models for investigating air quality vulnerability to human impact using isotope approach
• Analysis of urban growth consequences for air contaminant emissions and management
• Remote sensing applications for air quality vulnerability assessment based on the use of isotope systematics