Effects on Air quality of Semi-VOLatile Engine Emissions

Informations projet

EASVOLEE

N° de convention de subvention: 101095457

DOI

10.3030/101095457

Date de signature de la CE 28 Novembre 2022

Date de début 1 Février 2023

Date de fin 31 Janvier 2027

Financé au titre de

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Coût total

€ 2 999 051,00

Contribution de l’UE

€ 2 999 051,00

Coordonné par

IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EASVOLEE (Effects on Air quality of Semi-VOLatile Engine Emissions)

Période du rapport: 2024-08-01 au 2026-01-31

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

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.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

During the second reporting period (RP2), all planned activities were completed, and all the main objectives of the period were achieved. The following key tasks were performed:
• Comprehensive emission measurements were completed for organic pollutants across all volatility classes (VOCs, IVOCs, SVOCs, LVOCs), size-resolved particulate matter (including semi-volatile fractions), black carbon, and regulated pollutants (e.g. NOₓ, SO2) for a wide range of vehicles under real-world and simulated driving conditions.
• Atmospheric processing of emissions and the formation of secondary pollutants, in particular secondary organic aerosol (SOA), were characterised using oxidation flow reactors and atmospheric simulation chambers.
• Field measurements were successfully conducted in the Fréjus Tunnel (France–Italy) and in a parking lot in Patras (Greece), enabling quantification of average emissions from tens of thousands of passenger cars and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as secondary organic material formed during atmospheric oxidation.
• An openly accessible European transport emissions inventory integrating EASVOLEE results and state-of-the-art knowledge on transport emissions was completed.
• The toxicity of both fresh and atmospherically aged emissions was quantified in all experimental campaigns.
• A new version of the chemical transport model PMCAMx (PMCAMx-iv) was developed to explicitly represent intermediate-volatility organic compounds from transport sources, and all EASVOLEE models were extended to quantify transport emission impacts.
• Chemical transport models were updated and applied using EASVOLEE measurement results to assess the impacts of engine emissions on air quality and human health for present-day conditions and future scenarios.
• Communication, exploitation, and standardisation frameworks were implemented in accordance with the project dissemination and exploitation plan.
Overall, the project has been progressing according to the original plan.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

Scientific impacts: During the second reporting period, EASVOLEE generated new datasets on real-driving emissions (RDE) of pollutants, including semivolatile and intermediate volatility organics (SVOCs, IVOCs), particle number, and atmospheric aging under both simulated and real-world conditions. The project addressed knowledge gaps on unregulated pollutants from cars, buses, trucks, non-road machinery, and two-wheelers across different fuels and engine types. Experimental results were combined with outputs from related EU projects (e.g. CARES, GVI, MODALES, SCIPPER, TUBE, uCARe, DownToTen, PEMS4NANO, SUREAL-23) to build the first European emission inventory including IVOC and SVOC transport emissions. In parallel, chemical transport models were upgraded to include the new developments providing a system for evaluating emissions, their atmospheric transformations, and associated health impacts.
By the end of the second reporting period, EASVOLEE partners have published 18 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Environmental Science & Technology, Science of the Total Environment, Science Advances, npj Clean Air, and ACS Earth and Space Chemistry. Results were also presented at major international conferences (EAC 2023 & 2024, Air Quality 2024, UFP Symposium 2024, EGU 2025, EAC 2025), ensuring wide dissemination within the scientific community. The project further strengthened international collaboration and visibility by co-organising the EGU 2025 session “Transport and air pollution: From real-world emissions to their impacts” together with PAREMPI, MI-TRAP, and AEROSOLS.

Economic Impact- Fostering competitiveness of European businesses, EU transition to green economy and jobs: EASVOLEE continues to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry by advancing the scientific basis for cleaner transport technologies and supporting the transition toward a green and circular economy. The results from the second reporting period provide robust evidence that directly feeds into the EU Zero-Pollution Action Plan under the European Green Deal, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in sustainable transport, smart mobility, and green innovation. These advances also create opportunities for industrial uptake, including the emergence of new value chains, spin-offs, and start-ups built around advanced emissions measurement, modelling, and data services.
The project contributes to reducing transport-related air pollution and its associated societal and economic burden by addressing emissions from current and future vehicle fleets, as well as non-road mobile machinery. Improved air quality translates into lower healthcare costs linked to pollution-related diseases, thereby supporting broader economic efficiency and resilience across EU Member States.

Societal Impact: EASVOLEE contributes to improving air quality and protecting public health in Europe and beyond, delivering significant long-term societal and environmental benefits. Its results support the development of health-oriented environmental policies and inform the design of technologies aimed at reducing emissions, while also strengthening public understanding of air pollution challenges and their health implications.
The project is firmly grounded in Responsible Research and Innovation and Open Science principles, ensuring early and continuous engagement with stakeholders such as public authorities, health organisations, and NGOs. This approach enhances transparency, relevance, and societal acceptance of project outputs, while aligning research with public expectations and policy needs.
EASVOLEE also contributes to education and capacity building by integrating its activities into university-level training. Graduate students receive interdisciplinary education that equips them with the skills needed to understand, analyse, and address complex environmental and health challenges. This strengthens the future workforce for both industry and environmental protection agencies, ensuring a continuous pipeline of highly trained experts.
The project provides updated scientific evidence on transport emissions and the toxicity of air pollutants, supporting the work of health authorities and consumer protection organisations in their assessments, advocacy efforts, and policy development processes.