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Household Chemicals Amplifying Urban Aerosol Pollution

Project description

A solution to the SOA pollution puzzle

Secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) formed from emitted trace gases have a significant impact on human health in urban areas. Studies have shown that volatile chemical products (VCPs) from household products are one of the major sources of organic vapours in cities. However, the potential for VCPs to form SOAs is still unknown. In this context, the EU-funded CHANEL project will solve the SOA pollution puzzle and uncover the critical VCP precursors of aerosol emissions. The project will conduct field measurements in urban areas throughout Europe using state-of-the-art chemical ionisation mass spectrometry and an airborne platform in the form of a Zeppelin in order to determine the chemical composition of VCP emissions.

Objective

Urban aerosol particles are one of the largest human health hazards globally. A significant fraction of urban aerosol is secondary, .i.e. formed via atmospheric chemical reactions of emitted trace gases, with secondary organic aerosol (SOA) driving health impacts in urban air. Decades of air quality regulations have substantially reduced the motor vehicle emissions of organic compounds that act as precursors to SOA pollution. In my recent studies, we show for the first time that volatile chemical products (VCPs) from household chemicals are becoming one of the largest sources of organic vapors in US cities. Based on their chemical properties, the potential of VCPs to form SOA is expected to be high but is as yet unknown. With chemical transport models showing a general shortfall in predicting urban SOA, VCPs are anticipated to be the missing source to bridge this long-standing knowledge gap. The aim of CHANEL is to provide unprecedented data to resolve the urban SOA pollution puzzle and identify the key VCP precursors to aerosol pollution. Using recent advances in state-of-the-art chemical ionization mass spectrometry, we will perform field measurements in European urban areas to determine the chemical composition of VCP emissions. A Zeppelin will be used as an airborne platform to probe the urban breath of European cities and quantify the chemical evolution and SOA production from VCPs downwind of urban centers. These measurements will be accompanied by controlled atmospheric simulation chamber experiments to oxidize VCP emissions and retrieve their SOA yields as a parametrization to be used by chemical transport models. In a future of electrified fleets where fossil fuel emissions are expected to further decrease and VCPs will dominate urban air pollution, CHANEL will push the frontiers of knowledge on urban SOA pollution and set the basis for future efficient adaptation policies.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) ERC-2022-STG

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Host institution

FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JULICH GMBH
Net EU contribution
€ 1 499 359,00
Address
WILHELM JOHNEN STRASSE
52428 JULICH
Germany
Region
Berlin Berlin Berlin
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 1 499 359,00

Beneficiaries (1)