Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EASVOLEE (Effects on Air quality of Semi-VOLatile Engine Emissions)
Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-07-31
The EASVOLEE project brings together leading European research groups, with state-of the-art observational and modeling facilities to:
i. Quantify the contributions of secondary aerosol formation from transport engines to air quality problems in Europe.
ii. Develop and identify health-related metrics, mitigation strategies, and policies to improve air quality, limiting the concentrations of aerosol (organic, inorganic, nanoparticles).
The project combines state-of-the art measurement of the complete suite of emissions of transport engines under real driving conditions, investigations of the formation of secondary particulate matter (PM) during their atmospheric processing, and studies of the toxicity of both the fresh and aged PM. These results will be used to improve chemical transport models that in turn will allow EASVOLEE to quantify the effects of engine emissions on air quality and health - both now and for a series of future scenarios.
EASVOLEE is improving our understanding of organic emissions from vehicle exhaust including low-volatility (LVOCs), semi-volatile (SVOCs), intermediate volatility (IVOCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is elucidating the corresponding secondary aerosol formation (both organic and inorganic) and is characterizing the health effects of these primary and secondary particles.
The contribution of engine exhaust emissions to PM2.5 and size-resolved particle number concentrations in Europe will be quantified during all seasons. The above scientific evidence will be used to investigate the effectiveness of policies to reduce secondary organic and inorganic PM levels in urban areas - with a focus on components impacting health. Finally, EASVOLEE will develop new approaches to improve the quantification of transport impacts on air quality and health effects supporting future emissions and climate legislation.
i. Quantify the contributions of secondary aerosol formation from transport engines to air quality problems in Europe.
ii. Develop and identify health-related metrics, mitigation strategies, and policies to improve air quality, limiting the concentrations of aerosol (organic, inorganic, nanoparticles).
The project combines state-of-the art measurement of the complete suite of emissions of transport engines under real driving conditions, investigations of the formation of secondary particulate matter (PM) during their atmospheric processing, and studies of the toxicity of both the fresh and aged PM. These results will be used to improve chemical transport models that in turn will allow EASVOLEE to quantify the effects of engine emissions on air quality and health - both now and for a series of future scenarios.
EASVOLEE is improving our understanding of organic emissions from vehicle exhaust including low-volatility (LVOCs), semi-volatile (SVOCs), intermediate volatility (IVOCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is elucidating the corresponding secondary aerosol formation (both organic and inorganic) and is characterizing the health effects of these primary and secondary particles.
The contribution of engine exhaust emissions to PM2.5 and size-resolved particle number concentrations in Europe will be quantified during all seasons. The above scientific evidence will be used to investigate the effectiveness of policies to reduce secondary organic and inorganic PM levels in urban areas - with a focus on components impacting health. Finally, EASVOLEE will develop new approaches to improve the quantification of transport impacts on air quality and health effects supporting future emissions and climate legislation.
During the first reporting period, most of the required groundwork to reach the major EASVOLEE goals has been performed. More specifically:
• We have performed emission measurements of organic pollutants of all volatilities (VOCs, IVOCs, SVOCs, and LVOCs), size-resolved particles (including semivolatile material), ammonia, black carbon, and standard pollutants (NOx, SO2, etc.) for a range of vehicles under both real and simulated driving conditions.
• We have investigated the atmospheric processing of these emissions and the production of secondary pollutants and especially secondary organic aerosol using both oxidation flow reactors and atmospheric simulation chambers.
• We have performed measurements in the Frejus Tunnel between France and Italy to quantify the average emissions of tens of thousands of passenger vehicles and trucks and the secondary organic material that is produced during their atmospheric oxidation.
• We have started the development of an openly available European emissions inventory integrating the EASVOLEE results and the latest knowledge on transport emissions.
• We have started the quantification of the toxicity of both the fresh and the processed emissions in all these campaigns.
• We have developed a new version of the chemical transport model PMCAMx called PMCAMx-iv to better simulate the intermediate volatility organic compounds emitted by transportation and extended the other EASVOLEE models to quantify the effects of transportation emissions.
• The improvement of the EASVOLEE chemical transport models using the results of our measurements has started and is ongoing. The models will be used to quantify the effects of engine emissions on air quality and health - both now and for a series of future scenarios.
• The communication, exploitation, and standardization supportive frameworks have been put in place.
• We have performed emission measurements of organic pollutants of all volatilities (VOCs, IVOCs, SVOCs, and LVOCs), size-resolved particles (including semivolatile material), ammonia, black carbon, and standard pollutants (NOx, SO2, etc.) for a range of vehicles under both real and simulated driving conditions.
• We have investigated the atmospheric processing of these emissions and the production of secondary pollutants and especially secondary organic aerosol using both oxidation flow reactors and atmospheric simulation chambers.
• We have performed measurements in the Frejus Tunnel between France and Italy to quantify the average emissions of tens of thousands of passenger vehicles and trucks and the secondary organic material that is produced during their atmospheric oxidation.
• We have started the development of an openly available European emissions inventory integrating the EASVOLEE results and the latest knowledge on transport emissions.
• We have started the quantification of the toxicity of both the fresh and the processed emissions in all these campaigns.
• We have developed a new version of the chemical transport model PMCAMx called PMCAMx-iv to better simulate the intermediate volatility organic compounds emitted by transportation and extended the other EASVOLEE models to quantify the effects of transportation emissions.
• The improvement of the EASVOLEE chemical transport models using the results of our measurements has started and is ongoing. The models will be used to quantify the effects of engine emissions on air quality and health - both now and for a series of future scenarios.
• The communication, exploitation, and standardization supportive frameworks have been put in place.
Scientific impacts: Progress during the first reporting period included advancements in quantifying the emissions of intermediate volatility and semivolatile organic compounds in exhaust emissions. Moreover, the formation of secondary organic and inorganic aerosol from these emissions during the atmospheric oxidation has been measured. The toxicity of both the fresh and aged PM has been quantified. By the end of the first reporting period, 7 scientific EASVOLEE articles have been published in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals (e.g. Aerosol Science and Technology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Environmental Science and Technology Air, Science of the Total Environment, Environmental Science: Atmospheres and Environmental Science and Technology), as a way to disseminate results to the scientific research community. EASVOLEE results have been presented at various international scientific conferences such as EAC 2023, Air Quality 2024 Conference and the UFP Symposium 2024. EASVOLEE’s holistic approach establishes a novel methodology for the evaluation of emissions from the transportation sector and their toxicity that varies during their atmospheric aging. This methodology will be applicable to other air pollution sectors. EASVOLEE fosters the spread of the obtained knowledge through dissemination adopting a strategy of open science, so that the whole science community can expand on and detail the EASVOLEE outcomes.
Economic Impacts - Fostering competitiveness of European Businesses, EU transition to green economy and jobs: EASVOLEE novel results of the first reporting period provide information on engine exhaust characterization, effects on air pollution and human-health impacts, supporting industrial development of vehicles to meet the objectives of the Zero-Pollution Action Plan of the European Green Deal. Moreover, EASVOLEE results will contribute to a reduction of engine exhaust emissions from both existing and future automotive fleets and on-road machinery. Healthy air is necessary for an efficient economy and is a central element to achieve a successful and circular EU economy. In addition, EASVOLEE has created new job opportunities for young and senior researchers.
Societal Impact: EASVOLEE has a clear capacity to catalyze improvements of air quality and thereby health in Europe and beyond, and thus protect and support Europe’s future excellence. Social responsibility through raising awareness activities is a major added value. The results of EASVOLEE will generate significant benefits for the EU society by improving citizens’ quality of life, by developing health-oriented environmental policies and by encouraging the creation of technologies that accelerate change towards a pollution-free environment. Health authorities and consumer protection entities will be provided with updated and new information on transportation emissions and toxicity of the resulting air pollutants to assist their activities and advocacy.
The EASVOLEE funds are contributing to the education of young scientists with solid scientific knowledge who will contribute to Europe’s leading research institutions. Students participating in the EASVOLEE project are trained to identify, understand, and mitigate the problems of tomorrow, which will benefit the European industry and environmental protection agencies.
Economic Impacts - Fostering competitiveness of European Businesses, EU transition to green economy and jobs: EASVOLEE novel results of the first reporting period provide information on engine exhaust characterization, effects on air pollution and human-health impacts, supporting industrial development of vehicles to meet the objectives of the Zero-Pollution Action Plan of the European Green Deal. Moreover, EASVOLEE results will contribute to a reduction of engine exhaust emissions from both existing and future automotive fleets and on-road machinery. Healthy air is necessary for an efficient economy and is a central element to achieve a successful and circular EU economy. In addition, EASVOLEE has created new job opportunities for young and senior researchers.
Societal Impact: EASVOLEE has a clear capacity to catalyze improvements of air quality and thereby health in Europe and beyond, and thus protect and support Europe’s future excellence. Social responsibility through raising awareness activities is a major added value. The results of EASVOLEE will generate significant benefits for the EU society by improving citizens’ quality of life, by developing health-oriented environmental policies and by encouraging the creation of technologies that accelerate change towards a pollution-free environment. Health authorities and consumer protection entities will be provided with updated and new information on transportation emissions and toxicity of the resulting air pollutants to assist their activities and advocacy.
The EASVOLEE funds are contributing to the education of young scientists with solid scientific knowledge who will contribute to Europe’s leading research institutions. Students participating in the EASVOLEE project are trained to identify, understand, and mitigate the problems of tomorrow, which will benefit the European industry and environmental protection agencies.