To investigate the health risks of particulate matter during spring dust storms in Beijing, this study selected atmospheric particulate samples collected during a typical dust storm event in March 2021. The DNA damage rates induced by PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were measured using the Plasmid Scission Assay (PSA) and were used as an indicator of their oxidative potential. Water-soluble heavy metal elements (WSHM) in the samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results indicate that due to the influence of the dust storm, the monthly average PM_2.5 mass concentration in March 2021 reached as high as 83 μg/m³, which could potentially raise the difficulty of air pollution control. It was found that during the dust storm event, PM_2.5 induced a higher DNA damage rate (mean 42.35% at an experimental dose of 200 μg/mL in the PSA) than PM₁₀ (mean 40.46% under the same experimental dosage). The DNA damage rates of dust storm particles showed a positive correlation trend (r = 0.60) with total WSHM concentrations. Exposure toxicity, calculated by multiplying the DNA damage rates under certain experimental PM doses by the PM mass concentrations, showed that the exposure risk of PM_2.5 during dust storms even exceeded that of PM_2.5 during haze events. This study reveals the potential toxicity and health risks associated with PM during dust storms, which calls for increased attention.

The adverse health effects of air pollution are being increasingly recognized as major causes of disease. Atmospheric particles, as a major component of air pollution, have been extensively studied in terms of their sources, physicochemical characteristics, transport in the atmosphere, and changes in particulate composition during their time in the atmosphere. The relationships between particles and diseases are complex, so research on the health effects and damage mechanisms of particulate matter (PM) is of significant importance. This study reviews the health effects of PM and provides an overview of the hazards of atmospheric PM to various human organs. In addition, this review explores the mechanisms of damage, summarizes the research methods used to determine the health effects, and discusses the influential health factors caused by PM. In combination with current Chinese and global research, the modern technologies and research trends on the health effects of particles are elucidated.

Microplastics have emerged as a relatively new type of pollutant and have attracted significant global attention. This study focuses on toxicology of microplastics in ambient PM_2.5 and road dustfall in Beijing. It utilizes the Plasmid Scission Assay to toxicologically evaluate the oxidative damage capacity of microplastics as a component of PM_2.5. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) method, based on the mass concentration of microplastics in ambient air, was employed to assess the ecological risk of atmospheric dustfall microplastics in Beijing. The results showed that both standard microplastic samples and mixed samples of microplastics with ambient PM_2.5 exhibited a dose–response relationship in DNA damage rates. At the same dose, microplastic samples with smaller particle sizes have a higher DNA damage rate. Based on the PLI results, most road dustfall microplastics in Beijing exhibit significant spatial variation. Analysis of road dustfall along the east–west main road across Beijing’s urban area revealed that microplastic pollution levels are higher in the eastern zone than in the western zone. Comparisons of pollution levels across functional areas in Beijing showed that university areas > residential areas > industrial areas > commercial areas > agricultural areas. In vertically collected samples, higher elevations (PLI_13.6m = 3.54) exhibit greater pollution levels than lower (PLI_1.5m = 1), which warrants special attention. These findings highlight the complex relationship between atmospheric microplastic accumulation and their oxidative capacity, providing essential insights for the design of targeted emission reduction strategies.