Natural and human contributions of gases and aerosols, particularly mineral dusts, have significant detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Their chemical composition containing a wide range of potentially toxic elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, black carbon, microplastics, and other constituents, as well as their physical characteristics are determined by various natural and anthropogenic sources, depending on the emission rate and type. The distribution of dust through various environments, such as aerosols, precipitation, road dust, soil particles, suspended and bottom sediments, increases environmental risks, including risks to public health especially in urban and industrial environment. Long-term population exposure to airborne dust is associated with increased morbidity and additional mortality, primarily from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, although many of the health effects have yet to be determined. Local and regional patterns of urban emissions can also increase concentrations of particulate matter and exacerbate health-related effects.

Environmental risk assessment has become a powerful and robust science-based framework for the development of cost-effective abatement strategies and public health decisions. The purpose of this special issue is to highlight methodological issues in assessing the environmental risk and health impact associated with dust exposure and particle pollution, primarily in cities. Field, experimental and modeling studies related to the analysis of dust in various environments, identification of natural and anthropogenic sources, impact on air quality and public health, or any review study on these topics are welcome.

• Spatial patterns and sources of dust, source apportionment
• Environmental risk associated with chemical composition and physical characteristics of dust with focus on the urban environment
• State-of-the-art methods for assessing emission patterns, transport and impact of aerosols on the environment
• Health effects of particle pollution in urban areas
• Urban air quality and modern air pollution abatement strategies
• Nanoparticles and microplastics

Invited editors:

• Dr. Natalia Shartova, International Laboratory for Landscape Ecology, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia, nshartova@hse.ru
• Dr. Dmitry Vlasov, Department of Landscape Geochemistry and Soil Geography, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, vlasov.msu@gmail.com
• Prof. Nikolay Kasimov, Head of Department of Landscape Geochemistry and Soil Geography, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
• Dr. Andrian A. Seleznev, Institute of Industrial Ecology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia

Submission deadline: June 30th^st, 2023.

Submission closed