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Dr Tim Jones

Overview

Portrait photo of Tim Jones Position: Senior Lecturer Email: JonesTP@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone: +44(0)29 208 74924
Fax: +44(0)29 208 74326
Extension: 74924
Location: 1.72A

Research Group

Geoenvironment

Research Interests

Airborne particle and respiratory toxicity

Contaminated land and human health

Fossil charcoal from Devonian onwards

Publications

2010

Price, H.D., Arthur, R., Sexton, K., Gregory, C., Hoogendoorn, B., Matthews, I. Jones, T.P. and BéruBé, K.A. (2009). Airborne particles in Swansea, UK: their collection and characterisation. Journal of Environmental Health and Toxicology, in press.

Jones, T.P., BéruBé, K.A., Wlodarczyk, A. And Brown, P. (2009). The physicochemistry and toxicology of UK technogenic particles. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, in press.

2009

Koshy, L., Jones, T.P. and BéruBé, K.A. (2009). Characterisation and bioreactivity of respirable airborne particles from a municipal landfill. Biomarkers, 14(1):49-53.

Jones, T.P., Wlodarczyk, Koshy, L., Brown, P., Longyi Shao and BéruBé, K.A. (2009). The geochemistry and bioreactivity of fly-ash from coal-burning power stations. Biomarkers, 14(1):45-48.

Price, H.P, Jones, T.P. and BéruBé, K. (2009). Particle concentration measurements in a busy street canyon: initial observations from Swansea, Wales. In: Proceedings of 12th Annual UK Review Meeting on Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution Research. Institute of Environment and Health, Cranfield University, Web Report W26; http//www.cranfield.ac.uk/health/ieh.

Chuang, H.C., Jones, T.P. and BéruBé, K. (2009). Oxidative capacity of combustion-derived particulate matter from incense burning. In: Proceedings of 12th Annual UK Review Meeting on Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution Research. Institute of Environment and Health, Cranfield University, Web Report W26; http//www.cranfield.ac.uk/health/ieh.

2008

BéruBé, K.A., Jones, C. and Jones, T.P. (2008). Environmental particles: a breath of fresh air? Proceeding of the Royal Microscopy Society, 9:4-16.

Balharry, D., Sexton, K., Jones, T.P. and BéruBé, K.A. (2008). An in vitro approach to test the toxicity of inhaled tobacco smoke components: nicotine, cadmium, formaldehyde and urethane. Toxicology, 244:66-67.

Koshy, L., Jones, T. and BéruBé, K.A. (2008). Bioreactivity of landfill leachates: hormesis and DNA damage. Water Research, 42:2177-2183.

Wlodarczyk, A., Koshy, L., Jones, T.P. and BéruBé, K. (2008). Reactive oxygen species drives fly ash bioreactivity. In: Proceedings of 11th Annual UK Review Meeting on Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution Research. Institute of Environment and Health, Cranfield University, Web Report W25, http//www.silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk/ieh/, in press.

Koshy, L., Jones, T.P. and BéruBé, K. (2008). Characterisation and bioreactivity of respirable airborne particles from municipal landfills. In: Proceedings of 11th Annual UK Review Meeting on Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution Research. Institute of Environment and Health, Cranfield University, Web Report W25, http//www.silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk/ieh/, in press.

Price, H.D., Jones, T.P., BéruBé, K.A., Arthur, R., Matthews, I., Sexton, K. and Gregory, C. (2008). Nanoparticles in urban air: a very small problem? Proceedings of 11th Annual UK Review Meeting on Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution. Institute of Environment and Health, Cranfield University, Web Report W25, http//www.silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk/ieh/, in press.

BéruBé, K.A., Hughes, T., Prytherch, Z., Balharry, D., Sexton, K., Koshy, L. and Jones, T.P. (2008). In vitro human tissue equivalent model of respiratory epithelia for toxicological screening of inhaled nanoparticles. In: Nanotechnology: towards reducing animal testing, 28-29 May 2008, The Royal Society, London. Institute of Nanotechnology, Post-Event Proceedings, CD-ROM.

2007

BéruBé, K.A., Balharry, D., Sexton, K., Hicks, M., Hughes, T., Prytherch, Z., Koshy, L., Jones, T.P. (2007). Inter-omic Analysis of Particulate Air Pollution. Trends in Cell & Molecular Biology, in press.

Koshy, L., Parish, E., Ling, S., Jones, T. and BéruBé, K.A. (2007). Bioreactivity of leachate from municipal waste landfills - assessment of toxicity. Science of the Total Environment, in press.

Shao, L., Li, J., Yang, S., Zhao, H., Li, H., Li, W., Jones, T., Sexton, K. and BéruBé, K.A. (2007). Associations between particle physicochemical characteristics and oxidative capacity: an indoor PM10 study in Beijing, China. Atmospheric Environment, in press.

BéruBé, K.A., Balharry, D., Sexton, K. and Jones, T.P. (2007). Nanoparticles: small particles big problems? Clinical Experimental Pharmacology Toxicology, in press.

BéruBé, K.A., Balharry, D., Sexton, K. and Jones, T.P. (2007). Nano particles and emerging heath effects. Clinical Experimental Pharmacology Toxicology, in press.

Jones, T.P., Moreno, T., BéruBé, K.A. and Richards, R.J. (2007). A comment on Sillanpää et al. [2003] Field and laboratory tests of a high volume cascade impactor, Journal of Aerosol Science, 38:136 138.

2006

Jones, T.P and BéruBé K.A. (2006). Mineralogy and structure of pathogenic particles. In: Particle Toxicology. Eds. K. Donaldson & P. Borm. CRC Press, Boca Raton.

Sexton K., Jones, T.P and BéruBé K.A. (2006) Biomarkers of exposure in the respiratory epithelia to tobacco smoke components. Experimental lung research, 32(3-4),143.

Balharry, D., Sexton, K., >Jones, T.P BéruBé K.A. (2006) charactarisation of a human airway epithelium model in response to tobacco smoke components. European Respiratory Journal, 28(50):824

Sexton, K., Balharry, D., span style='color: #FF4444'>Jones, T.P and BéruBé K.A. (2006) the use of toxicogenomics to identify biomarkers in an airway epithelium model exposed to tobaccco smoke components. 28(50):825

Jones, T.P. & Ash, R.A. (2006). Late Triassic charcoal and charcoal-like fossils from Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. (Parker, W.G., Ash, S.R. & Innis, R.B. eds) A Century of Research at Petrified Forest National park: Geology and Paleontology. Museum of Northern Arizona Bulletin Non 62, 106-115. ISBN 0-89734-120-1.

Leeks, G.J.L., Jones, T.P. & Hollingworth, N.T. (2006). Forward: an introduction to UK research on the urban environment. Science of the Total Environment, 360, 1-3, 1-4.

Jones, T.P, Moreno, T., BéruBé, K. & Richards, R. (2006). The physicochemical characterisation of microscopic airborne particles in south Wales; a review of the locations and methodologies. Science of the Total Environment, 360, 1-3, 43-59.

BéruBé, K, Balharry, D., Jones, T., Moreno, T., Hayden, P., Sexton, K., Hicks, M., Merolla, L., Timblin, C., Shukla, A. and Mossman, K. (2006) Characteristaion of airborne particulate matter and related mechanisms of toxicity: a holistic approach. In Air Pollution and Health (Eds Ayres, J., Maynard, R and Richards, R.). Imperial College Press.

Jones, T.P, Moreno, T., Gibbons, W.G., BéruBé, K. & Richards, R. (2006). A comment on Sillanpää et al. (2003) Field and laboratory tests of a high volume cascade impactor. Journal of Aerosol Science, 34, 485-500.

Shao, L.Y., Shi, Z., Jones, T.P., Li, J., Whittaker, A.G. & BéruBé, K.A. (2006) Bioreactivity of particulate matter in Beijing air: results from plasmid DNA assay. Science of the Total Environment, 367, 1, 261-272.

2005

Shi, Z. B., Shao, L. Y., Jones, T. P., Lu S. L., (2005). Microscopy and mineralogy of airborne particles collected during severe-dust storm episodes in Beijing, China. Journal of Geophysical Research. 110, No. D1, D01303 10.1029/2004JD005073.

Jones, T.P., BéruBé, K.A. and Moreno, T. (2005). The characterisation of airborne particles collected next to a waste transfer station. Experimental Lung Research, 31, 644.

BéruBé, K.A., Whittaker, A., Jones, T.P., Moreno, T. and Merolla, L. (2005). London smogs: why did they kill? Proceedings of the Royal Microscopy Society, 40/3, 171-183.

Shao, L., Yang, S., Li W., Xiao, Z., Zongbo, S. and Jones T. P. (2005). Physicochemistry and bioreactivity of airborne particles collected during severe dust-storm episodes in Beijing. Proceedings of the China-UK workshop on climate change. Beijing, China, 18-20 July, 2005.

Shao L.Y., Zhao H.Y., Jones T.P., Lu S.L., Merolla L., (2005). Oxidative damages to DNA by indoor PM10s: Their relationships with trace element compositions. Progress in Natural Sciences. 15(14): 417-422 (In Chinese).

Shao L.Y., Zhao H.Y., Jones T.P., Lu S.L., Merolla L., (2005) Oxidative damages to DNA by indoor PM10s: Their relationships with trace element compositions. Progress in Natural Sciences. 15(8): 694-699 (In English).

Jones, T. P. & Rowe, N.P. (2005) Fossil plants and spores: modern techniques. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, 44(3): 483.

Moreno, T., Higueras, P., Jones, T., McDonald, I. & Gibbons, W. (2005) Size fractionation in mercury-bearing particles (HgPM10) at Almardén Spain: implications for inhalation hazards around old mines. Atmospheric Environment, 39, 6409-6419.

2004

Whittaker, A., Jones, T.P., BéruBé, K.A., Maynard, R. and Richards, R.J. (2004). Killer Smogs of the 1950s London: Composition of the Particles and their Bioactivity. Sci. Total Environ., 334-335, 435-445.

BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P., Housley, G. H. and Richards, R.J. (2004). The Respiratory Toxicity of Airborne Volcanic Ash from the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat. Min. Mag. 68(1), 47-60.

BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P. , Sexton, K., S. Anderson and Richards, R.J. (2004). The spatial and temporal variations in PM10 mass from six UK homes. Sci. Total Environ., 324, 1-3, 41-53.

Shi, Zongbo, Shao, Longyi, Jones T.P., Whittaker, A.G., Richards, R.J. and Zhang, P. (2004) Oxidative stress on plasmid DNA induced by inhalable particles in the urban atmosphere. Chinese Scientific Bulletin, 49, 7, 692-697.

Moreno, T., Merolla, L., Gibbons, W., Jones, T. & Richards, R. (2004). The study of source apportionment and oxidative potential of airborne particles in a high traffic and steelworks industrial environment: a case from Port Talbot, UK. The Science of the Total Environment, 333, 59-73.

Moreno, T., Gibbons, W., Jones, T. & Richards, R. (2004). Geochemical and size variations in inhalable UK airborne particles: the limitation of mass measurements. Journal of the Geological Society of London, 161,899-902.

Moreno, T., Jones, T.P. & Richards, R.J. (2004). Aerosol particulate matter from urban and industrial environments: examples from Cardiff and Port Talbot, South Wales, UK. The Science of the Total Environment, 334-335, 1, 337-346.

2003

BéruBé, K.A., Moreno, T. Jones, T.P. Richards, R.J., Thomas, S. and Nevalainen, A. (2003). Analysis of the Chemical and Biological Properties of Indoor Air Particles. In: Airborne Particles and Settled Dust in the Indoor Environment, L. Morawska & T. Salthammer, eds., WILEY-VCH, Weinhein, Germany, pp. 105-140.

Shi, Z., Shao, L-Y., Jones, T.P., Whittaker, A.G., Senlin, L., BéruBé, K.A., He, T. and Richards, R.J. (2003). Characterisation of Airborne Individual particles Collected in an Urban Area, a Satellite City and a Clean Air Site in Beijing, China, 2001. Atmos. Environ, 37, 4097-4108.

BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P., Sexton, K. and Richards, R.J. (2003). Quantitative Image Analysis of Urban Airborne Particulate Matter. Proc. Royal Microsc. Soc., 38(1):3-12.

Reynolds, L., Jones, T.P. , BéruBé, K.A., Wise, H. and Richards, R.J. (2003). Toxicity of Airborne Dust Generated by Opencast Coal Mining. Min. Mag., 67(2), 141-152.

Whittaker, A.G., Jones, T.P., Shao, L-Y., Shi, Z., BéruBé, K.A. and Richards, R.J. (2003). Mineral Dust in Urban Air: Beijing, China. Min. Mag, 67(2), 173-182.

BéruBé, K.A., Murphy, S.A., Jones, T.P., Timblin, C., Hemenway, D., Mossman, B.T. and Richards, R.J. (2003). Characterisation of Airborne Particulate Matter and Related Mechanisms of Toxicity. In: Air Pollution Reviews, Vol. 3. Eds. J. Ayres, R. Maynard, R. Richards. Imperial College Press, London.

Shao, L., Jones, T.P., Gayer, R., Shifeng, D., Shengsheng, L., Yaofa, J. and Pengfei, Z. (2003) Petrology and geochemistry of high-sulphur coals from the Upper Permian carbonate coal measures in the Heshan Coalfield, southern China. International Journal of Coal Geology, 55, 1, 1-26

.

B. Parsons, L. Salter, T. Coe, R. Mathias, R. J. Richards and T. P. Jones. (2003) Airborne Particulate Matter (PM10) in the China Clay Area, Cornwall, UK. Mineralogical Magazine, 67(2), 161-169.

T. P. Jones, A. Morgan, and R. Richards. (2003) Primary blasting in a limestone quarry: physicochemical characterization of the dust clouds. Mineralogical Magazine, 67(2), 151-160.

Moreno, T., Gibbons, W., Jones, T. & Richards, R. (2003) The geology of ambient aerosols: characterising urban and rural/coastal silicate PM10-2.5 & PM2.5 using high volume cascade collection and scanning electron microscopy. Atmospheric Environment, 37, 4265-4276.

Moreno, T., Richards, R., Jones, T. & Gibbons, W. (2003): Metalliferous airborne particulate matter in urban and industrial sites. Geological & Mineralogical Association of Canada (GAC-MAC). Vancouver. Format in CD only.

Gibbons, W., Moreno, T., Higueras, P., Jones, T. & Richards, R. (2003): Investigating respirable particles (PM10) around the world's largest mercury mine, Almaden, Spain. Geological & Mineralogical Association of Canada (GAC-MAC). Vancouver. Format in CD only.

2002

BéruBé, K.A., Murphy, S.A., Jones, T.P., Timblin, C., Hemenway, D., Mossman, B.T. and Richards, R.J. (2002). Characterisation of Airborne Particulate Matter and Related Mechanisms of Toxicity. In: Air Pollution Reviews, Vol. 4. Eds. J. Ayres, R. Maynard, R. Richards. Imperial College Press, London.

BéruBé, K.A., Sexton, K., Jones, T.P., Simon Anderson and Richards, R.J. (2002). The life and times of airborne particles: a PM10 travel log. Experimental Lung Research, 28(2), 141. 0190-2148

Gibbons, W., Moreno, T., Higueras, P. & Jones, T.P. (2002). Respirable particulates (PM10) around the world's largest Mercury mine, Almadén, Spain. 18th General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association. Edinburgh, UK. September 2002.

Greenwell, L., Moreno, T., Jones, T.P. & Richards, R. (2002). Oxidative Damage By Respirable Particles Is Ameliorated By Low Molecular Weight Antioxidants. Experimental Lung Research, 28, 141-179.

Greenwell, L., Moreno, T., Jones, T.P. & Richards, R.J. (2002) Particle-Induced Oxidative Damage Is Ameliorated By Pulmonary Antioxidants (Particle-Induced Oxidative Damage). Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 32(9), 898-905.

Greenwell, L.L., Jones, T.P. & Richards (2002) The collection of PM10 for Toxicological Investigation: Comparisons Between Different Collecting devices. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 79, 251-273. 1420-2026

Housley, D., BéruBé, K., Jones, T.P., Anderson, S., Pooley, F. & Richards, R. (2002) Pulmonary epithelial response in the rat lung to instilled Montserrat respirable dusts and their major mineral components. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59, 466-472. 1351-0711

Jones, T.P., Blackmore, P.R., Leach, M.T., BéruBé, K.A., Sexton, K. and Richards, R.J. (2002). Characterisation of Airborne Particulates Collected within and Proximal to an Open-cast Coal-mine: South Wales, UK. Environ. Monitor. Assess., 75(3):293-312.

Moreno, T., Kelly, F., Mudway, I., Jones, T.P. & Richards, R. (2002). The high volume collection and characterisation of airborne particles in the UK. Six Annual Meeting on Outdoor and Indoor Pollution. Leicester, UK April 2002. http://www.le.ac.uk/ieh. ISBN 1899110720. 21-22.

Moreno, T., Richards, R. & Jones, T.P. (2002). Airborne particulate matter in urban and industrial sites. 18th General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association. Edinburgh, UK. September 2002.

Sexton, K., BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P. and Richards, R.J. (2002). Quantitative image analysis: the answer to a perfect figure! Experimental Lung Research, 28(2), 141. 0190-2148

Shi, Z., Shao, L., Li, H., Whittaker, A., Jones, T.P., BeruBé, K. & Richards, R. 2002. Physicochemical characterisation of the PM10 in ambient air of north western Beiging urban area during the heating-period. Huan Jing Ke Xne, 23, (1), 30-34. (in chinese). PMID 11957401.

Whittaker, A., Jones, T.P., BéruBé, K.A., Long Yi, S., Zong Bo, S. and Richards, R.J. (2002). Characterisation and bioreactivity of real pollutant soots: London 1950s and Present day Beijing. Experimental Lung Research, 28(2), 142. 0190-2148

Whittaker, A.,. Jones, T.P., BéruBé, K., Shao, L., Zongbo, S. & Richards, R.. Comparison of the physical properties and bioreactivity of pollutant soots from 1950s london and present day Beijing. 16th International Clean Air & Environment Conference - Casanz, Christchurch, August 2002.

Figueiral, I., Mosbrugger, V., Rowe, N., Utescher, T., Jones, T.P. and von der Hocht, F. (2002) Role of Charcoal Analysis for Interpreting Vegetation Change and Paleoclimate in the Miocene Rhine Embayment (Germany). Palaios, 17, 347-365.

Jones, T.P. (2002) Reply to comment on 'Extraterrestrial impacts and wildfires' by V. Svetsov. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 185, 407-408.

Timothy P. Jones, Sidney Ash and Isabel Figueiral. Late Triassic charcoal from Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 188, 127-139.

2001

T.P. Jones, B.J. Williamson, K.A. BéruBé and R.J. Richards (2001) Microscopy chemistry of particles collected on TEOM filters: Swansea, south Wales, 1998-99. Atmospheric Environment. 35, (21), 3573-3583.

Lindars, E. S., Grimes, S. T., Mattey, D. P., Collinson, M. E., Hooker, J. J. Jones, T.P. P. (2001) Phosphate δ18O determination of modern rodent teeth by direct laser fluorination: an appraisal of methodology potential application to palaeoclimatic reconstructions. Geochimica et Cosmoschimica Acta, Vol 65, No 15, 2535-2548.

Jones, T.P., BéruBé, K.A. Richards, R.J. (2001). Physicochemical characterisation of Montserrat ash for use in biological assays. Cities on Volcanoes 2, Auckl New Zeal. Institute of Geological Nuclear Sciences Information Series 49, 68.

Richards, R.J., Housley, D.G., BéruBé, K.A. Jones T.P (2001) Bioreactivity of Montserrat volcanic ash. Cities on Volcanoes 2, Auckl New Zeal. Institute of Geological Nuclear Sciences Information Series 49, 123.

BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P., Sexton, K. Richards, R.J. A Comparison of Indoor Outdoor PM10 Mass Related particles. Experimental Lung Research, 27(1), 77.

Greenwell, L, BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P. Richards, R.J. (2001) A Comparison between the PM10 Collections of Partisol Negretti Collection Systems in Port Talbot, South Wales. Experimental Lung Research, 27(1), 77.

Whittaker, A., Long Yi, S., Zong Bo, S., BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P. Richards, R.J. (2001) Change in PM10 PM2.5 Levels over a 24 Hour Period in Central Beijing, China. Experimental Lung Research, 27(1), 106.

Whittaker, A., Jones, T.P., Long-Yi, S., Zongbo, S. and Richards, R.J. (2001). Mineral Dust in Urban Air: Beijing China Electronic Geosciences http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/10069/conferen/spring_01/whittaker.htmISSN 1436-2511.

BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P., Housely, D.G. Richards, R.J. (2001). The Respiratory Toxicology of Airborne Volcanic Dust from the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat. Electronic Geosciences, http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/10069/conferen/spring_01/richards.htm ISSN 1436-2511.

Parsons, B., Jones, T.P., Coe, T., Mathias, R. Richards R.J. (2001) Airborne minerals in the vicinity of China Clay 'mice dams': St Austell, Cornwall. Electronic Geosciences, http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/10069/conferen/spring_01/parsons.htm ISSN 1436-2511.

Jones, T.P. P., Morgan, A. Richards. R.J. (2001) Dust generation by primary blasting in a limestone quarry. Electronic Geosciences, http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/10069/conferen/spring_01/jones.htm ISSN 1436-2511.

Reynolds L. J., Jones, T.P. P. Richards, R. J. (2001) Toxicity of airborne dust generated by opencast coal mining. Electronic Geosciences, http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/10069/conferen/spring_01/reynolds.htm ISSN 1436-2511.

Moreno, T., Jones, T.P. P. Richards, R. J. (2001) High-volume collection of airborne particles. Electronic Geosciences, http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/10069/conferen/spring_01/moreno.htm ISSN 1436-2511.

Greenwell, L. L., Jones, T.P. P. Richards, R. J. (2001) Comparative particulate analysis of PM10 collections by Negretti, Partisol TEOM systems in Port Talbot. Electronic Geosciences, http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/10069/conferen/spring_01/greenwell.htm ISSN 1436-2511.

Moreno, T., Richards, R.J. and Jones, T.P. (2001): High-volume collection of urban PM10: initial results. In: Aerosols: their generation, behaviour application. The Aerosol Society (eds).

Reynolds, LG, Jones, TP, Almosawi, A, Evans, SA Richards, RJ (2001) The persistence of inflammation oedema in compromised rat lungs treated with carbon silicon fine particles. 8th International Inhalation Symposium (INIS) Hannover, Germany, June 2001

Reynolds, LJ, BéruBé, KA, Jones, TP Richards RJ (2001) Gene expression profiling following instillation of diesel exhaust particles in rat lung. Atlas Array Users Annual Meeting, Clontech, London, UK March 2001.


2000


Jones, T.P. and Lim, B. (2000) Extraterrestrial impacts and fire. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 164, 1-4, 57-66.

Rowe, N.P. and Jones, T.P. (2000) Devonian charcoal. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 164, 1-4, 347-354.

Williamson, B.J. and Jones, T.P., (2000). Geochemical analysis. Oxford Companion to the Earth, p387-388.

Digging up Trouble - The Environment, Protest Opencast Mining, Beynon et al., in Geoscientist, Vol 10, No 10, (2000), 14.

Jones, T.P., Williamson, B.J.BéruBé, K.A. and Richards, R.J. (2000) Microscopy chemistry of used TEOM filters; Swansea 1998-9. IEH (2000) Joint research Programmes on outdoor indoor air pollution (review of progress, 1999), Leicester, UK, MRC Institute for Environment Health.

Jones, T.P., BéruBé, K.A., Reynolds, L.R. Richards, R.J. (2000). Physicochemical Characterisation of Some South Wales Airborne Particles: Park Slip West Coal Open-cast. In: Proceedings of Natural Environment Research Council Urban Regeneration Environment (URGENT) Programme Annual Meeting, Swindon, 21-22, URGENT Science Coordination Office.

Jones, T.P., BéruBé, K.A., Reynolds, L.R. Richards, R.J. (2000). Physicochemical Characterisation of Some South Wales Airborne Particles: Port Talbort. In: Proceedings of Natural Environment Research Council Urban Regeneration Environment (URGENT) Programme Annual Meeting, Swindon, 23-24, URGENT Science Coordination Office.

Reynolds, L.R., BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P. Richards, R.J. (2000). Gene Expression profiling Following Instillation of Diesel Exhaust particles in Rat Lung: a first study. In: Proceedings of Natural Environment Research Council Urban Regeneration Environment (URGENT) Programme Annual Meeting, Swindon, 25-27, URGENT Science Coordination Office.

Lueke, A., Figueiral, I., Helle, G., Schleser, G.H., Mosbrugger, V., Jones, T.P. Rowe, N.P. (2000). Carbon isotope investigations in Miocene brown coal seams of northwestern Germany: a tool for environmental reconstructions? Biomarkers Stable Isotopes in Palaeontology, Frankfurt, Germany, 30/6-2/7/2000.

BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P. Richards, R.J. (2000). Pysicochemical Identification Comparative Bioperistence of Indoor Outdoor Airborne Particulate Matter. Proc. Microsc. Microanal., 6 (Suppl. 2), 914-915.

Jones, T.P., BéruBé, K.A., Reynolds, L.R. Richards, R.J. (2000). Microscopy of Airborne Particulates from Open-cast Coal Pits. Proc. Microsc. Microanal., 6(Suppl. 2), 414-415.

Reynolds, L.R., BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P. Richards, R.J. (2000). Gene Expression profiling Following Instillation of Diesel Exhaust particles in the Lung: a first study. Proc. Microsc. Microanal., 6 (Suppl. 2), 910-911.

Shi Zongbo, Shao Longyi, Li Hong, Whittaker A.G., Jones T. P. , BéruBé K. A. R. J. Richards, (2000), Characterisation of inhalable particles in western Beijing urban area during heating period. In: Proceedings of 8th Annual Meeting on Air Pollution Controls in China. 2000, Kunming, China. 175-179.

Research

Microscopy and chemistry of particles collected on TEOM filters: Swansea, south Wales, 1998-99.

T.P. Jones, B.J. Williamson, K.A. BéruBé and R.J. Richards  (2001) Atmospheric Environment. 35, (21), 3573-3583.

Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalances (TEOMs) are used in the UK Automatic Monitoring Network for the continuous measurement of ambient airborne particles. Used TEOM filters from Swansea, Cardiff and Pembroke were examined under high-resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Clusters of calcium sulphate crystals, gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) and anhydrite (CaSO4) were abundant on Spring and Summer filters, and not present on Autumn and Winter filters. From textural considerations, the sulphates must have crystallised on the filter surfaces, either by dissolution and recrystallisation of CaSO4 collected as particles, or by direct precipitation from saline water collected on the filters; in much the same way as the formation of 'desert roses' by the evaporation of saline pore waters in desert sands. The proposed mechanism for the formation of these crystals has two important implications. Firstly, if the filters are episodically saturated with water, then on occasion the recorded masses will consist of both particles plus water, causing errors in the results of continuous monitoring; an important consideration for epidemiological studies based on TEOM data. Secondly, past toxicological experiments undertaken on TEOM-derived 'PM10' may have investigated material containing a significant component of in-situ formed crystals, rather than the original PM10.

 FESEM of an assemblage of parallel fibrous gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) crystals with a distinctive 'swallow-tail' morphology. Scale bar 2mm. FESEM of a radiating cluster of tabulate anhydrite (CaSO4) crystals. Scale bar 2 μm.

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Comparison of the chemistry and toxicity of airborne dust and leachate generated by municipal landfills

Dr T. Jones (PI) and Prof. C. Harris (EARTH): Dr K. BeruBe (BIOSCI)

There are currently strong national and international concerns about the possible adverse health effects of living in the vicinity of municipal waste landfills (Review of Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management: Municiple Solid Waste and Similar Wastes, DEFRA, May 2004). Despite alternatives such as incineration, re-cycling or re-use, approximately 80% of the UK's municipal waste goes to landfills. It is further estimated that 80% of the UK's population lives within 2 kilometres of a current or closed landfill: a surprisingly large percentage until the number of closed landfills within town and city areas are also included. Examples in Cardiff and Penarth of centrally located urban landfills include the closed Leckwith Moors, Penarth Marina, and Ferry Road sites. Current operating landfills include Lamby Way. The medical concerns surrounding landfills came from epidemiological studies and are focused on respiratory complaints, low and very low birth weights, spontaneous abortions, longer time to viable pregnancy, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and incidence of sarcoidosis. In particular concerns are concentrated on congenital birth defects, including; neural tube defects, cardiovascular defects, hypospadias and epispadias, abdominal wall defects (ex. gastroschisis). Gastroschisis has been of particular concern at the Nant-y-Gwyddon landfill in south Wales. With the concerns based on inconclusive epidemiological data, an understanding of the ranges of toxicity of these landfill emissions is crucial to determine the degree of concern we should have about the potential effects they could have on nearby populations or the surrounding environment.

The plasmid assay was developed as a Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) toxicity test system to be employed where controlled examination of multiple materials in animal experiments was impractical and/or unethical. Over the past years we have adapted a free radical assay whereby substances in very small quantities (5-10ug/ml) can split plasmid DNA by what is believed to be a free radical attack. The attack occurs at 3 levels; firstly small 'nicks' are made in the undamaged supercoiled DNA and result in the DNA uncoiling to a relaxed mode. The second level is when the nicks are sufficiently severe to linearise the DNA. The third stage is when the damage is so severe the DNA is reduced to a smear on the gel plate (Figure c). The damage to the DNA can then be semi-quantified to compare the toxicity of different samples. Since the results show percentage damage, they can be related to dosage (acute/chronic) exposure levels. The plasmid assay results have been used as a basis for later large-scale animal in-vivo experiments that have confirmed the use of the assay assay as a first-screening test to determine the bioreactivity of substances taken into the body.

A small pilot study was undertaken on landfill leachate (Figures a and b), collected by permission of the operators in a south Wales landfill. The purpose of the pilot study was to determine the suitability of our toxicological methods for landfill leachates, and to ascertain whether under our tests the leachate was toxic. When the leachate was collected the landfill site was actively accepting municipal waste, and the leachate will have formed with available oxygen present. The leachate was processed through a series of dilutions with distilled water, and tested in the plasmid assay. This system provides us with a useful primary toxicity assessment; and has potential for development for other pollution situations such as contaminated land . The results of the pilot study (Figures d and e) showed unequivocally the free radical activity of the landfill leachate. Pure leachate results in 100% loss of supercoiled DNA and smearing showing high DNA damage. The level of damage diminishes through the progressive dilutions, however at 100x dilution the damage is still approximately 8%. These analyses were run in duplicate with identical results. We conclude from these pilot results that the plasmid assay provides a relatively cheap and scientifically reliable and reproducible method for the assessment of landfill leachate toxicity. Furthermore it involves an applied holistic approach where the toxicity of the leachate is quantified as a 'cocktail' of numerous potentially harmful substances, instead of identifying individual components then predicting toxicity on the basis of existing literature. The advantages of this 'first screen' approach is that it permits an overview assessment of leachate toxicity that can consider numerous variables. These include the generation and migration of the leachate with the landfill, external climatic factors, and the chemical evolution of the landfills.

toxicity

The respiratory toxicity of airborne volcanic ash from the Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat

BéruBé, K.A., Jones, T.P., Housley, G. H. and Richards, R.J. (2004). The Respiratory Toxicity of Airborne Volcanic Ash from the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat. Min. Mag. (in press)

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Electron microscope image and size distribution (m ESD) histogram of volcanic ash from the Monserrat eruption.

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The Soufrière Hills stratovolcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat has been erupting since 18th July 1995. An enormous amount of respirable volcanic ash has been suspended into the atmosphere by the eruptions and wind re-suspension of deposited ash. The large amount of fine airborne particulate matter, in particular the component under 10μm equivalent aerodynamic diameter (PM10), is a cause of medical concern.

These concerns have prompted government-funded investigations into the potential toxicity of well-characterized volcanic ash samples from Montserrat. Given the well-established toxicity of crystalline, particular attention was paid to the amount of this mineral in the ash samples. Comparative toxicological studies were carried out on respirable preparations of these three samples together with appropriate control mineral dusts that matched the major components of the Montserrat samples; anorthite, labradorite, cristobalite/obsidian, and cristobalite.

The data indicates that Montserrat respirable ash, derived from dome collapse pyroclastic flows or vulcanian explosions, has minimal acute bioreactivity in the lung. The feldspar standards showed low bioreactivity, in stark contrast to the cristobalite standard that showed progressive increases in lung damage. These results suggest that either the mass of cristobalite present in the Montserrat ash was insufficient to cause an effect in the lung, or the cristobalite in the ash was, for some as yet unknown reason, markedly less bioreactive than our pure cristobalite standard.

Current research projects and collaborations include:

Particulate matter in the atmosphere

I am co-leader of the interdisciplinary Particles and Lung Research Group (PLRG) with Dr Kelly BéruBé in Biosciences, Cardiff. The PLRG won the IFSH Dietrich Hoffman Scientific Merit Award in 2006, and the NC3Rs Replacement prize 2007.

Lung and Particle Research Group Mobile Environmental Monitoring Unit

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Laboratory fit-out: Interior lined with vetralite, floored with heavy-duty plastic coating. Work bench and cupboards. Mains power hook-up. It contains two fridges for sample storage and a roof-mounted air conditioning system. Roof rack and storage box for weather station. Rear door roof ladder and tow bar. Complete site PPE.

Installed equipment:

  1. Skye Weather Station, with on-line 7-channel logger.
  2. On-line ambient gas analysers; CO, NO, NOx, O3
  3. DEKATI airborne particles impactor collector. Collects ambient airborne particles over the range PM10 to 7 nanometres in 10 separate collection plates. On-line particle size and number count.
  4. ASAP particle collector: sealed impaction system that is appropriate for bioaerosol collection.
  5. Laptop with DVD-writer
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Mobil equipment:

  1. ROTAS luminescence toxicity system: organic, heavy metals, contaminated soil.
  2. LEICA QWin Imaging Workstation: Image Analysis
  3. Bench-top microcentrifuge
  4. SYSCAL resistivity system: ground geophysics
  5. Soil leachate shaker: contaminated soil analysis
  6. GA2000 landfill gas analyser
  7. Trimble pathfinder GPS
  8. WAG Arsenator: field measurement of arsenic in groundwater
  9. 4” borehole pump and control system

High-Volume collection systems

  1. Stand-alone pumping system, running off 240V 13A, with a flow-rate of 1000 litres/minute. Tripod mounted R&P Chemvol 2400 impaction collector: TSP, 10-2.5μm, 2.5-0.1μm, HEPA base filter.
  2. Trailer mounted pumping system, running off 240V 13A, with a flow-rate of 1000 litres/minute. Roof-mounted R&P Chemvol 2400 impaction collector: TSP, 10-2.5μm, 2.5-0.1μm, HEPA base filter.

National

  • Indoor/outdoor particulate pollution, DEFRA, (Richards/BéruBé/Jones)
  • A mobile High-Vol particle collector, DETR, (Jones/Richards)

International

  • The characterisation and toxicity of Montserrat volcanic ash, DFID, (Richards/BéruBé/Jones)
  • The characterisation and toxicity of UK urban PM10, MRC, (Richards/ Moreno/BéruBé/Jones)
  • Particulate matter in Beijing air; British Embassy China, CNSF, Roy. Soc., (Jones/Shao)

Fossil Charcoal

I have continuing interest in the causes and implications of a record of fossil charcoal since the Devonian. Current investigations include looking at material from the Triassic, Cretaceous and Tertiary. Work includes Electron probe X-ray analysis of particles (EPXMA) from wildfires and catastrophic events, in particular the K/T boundary.

Biography

Portfolio

Director of Taught Postgraduate Programes

Joint leader of the Particle and Lung Research Group

Deputy directory, M.Sc. Applied Environmental Geology

Admissions Officer MSc

Academia

PhD RHBNC (University of London) 1991

2005-present: Senior lecturer in Applied Environmental Geology, Earth Sciences, Cardiff University

2001-2005: Lecturer in Applied Environmental Geology, Earth Sciences, Cardiff University

1998-2001: Senior Research Associate, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University

1995-1997: University Research Fellow, Dept. Earth Sciences, Cardiff University

1992-1995: Assistant Professor and Humboldt Fellow, Institut und Museum fuer Geologie und Palaeontologie, Eberhard-Karls-Universitaet Tuebingen, Germany

1991-1992: Post-doctoral researcher, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London

Affiliations

Guest Professor, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, China

Fellow of Geological Society.

Associate of Geologists Association.

Member of International Organisation for Palaeobotany.

Member of Arbeitskreis fuer Palaeobotanik und Palynologie.

British Association for Lung Research.