First evaluation of the effect of microorganisms on steady state hydroxyl radical concentrations in atmospheric waters

Clouds are complex multiphasic media where efficient chemical reactions take place and where microorganisms have been found to be metabolically active. Hydroxyl radical is the main oxidant in cloud water, and more generally in the atmosphere, during the day and drives the cloud oxidative capacity. However, only one measurement of the steady state hydroxyl radical concentrations in cloud water has been reported so far. Cloud chemistry models are used to estimate the hydroxyl radical concentrations with values ranging from 10−12 to 10−15 M that are surely overestimated due to a lack of knowledge about the speciation of the organic matter acting as a sink for hydroxyl radicals. The aim of this work is to quantify the concentration of hydroxyl radicals at steady state in rain and cloud waters and to measure the impact of native microflora on this concentration. First, the non-toxicity of terephthalic acid as probe is controlled before the analysis in real atmospheric water samples. Higher concentrations of hydroxyl radicals are found in cloud waters than in rain waters, with a mean value “1.6 ± 1.5” × 10−16 M and “7.2 ± 5.0” × 10−16 M for rain and cloud waters respectively and no real impact of microorganisms was observed. This method allows the measurement of steady state hydroxyl radical levels at very low concentrations (down to 10−17 M) and it is biocompatible, fast and easy to handle. It is a useful tool, complementary to other methods, to give a better overview of atmospheric water oxidant capacity.