Title: Compositional patterns and sources of atmospheric particulate matter under different urban scenarios
The predoctoral researcher Anna Canals Angerri, from the EGAR group, will defend her thesis on 25th February at 10:30h in Aula Magna Enric Casassas (Facultat de Química i Física, Universitat de Barcelona)
Directors: Xavier Querol and Barend L. van Drooge
Thesis Committee: Ana Maria Sánchez de la Campa Verdona, Eduardo Yubero Funes and Joel Sánchez Piñero
Abstract:
The thesis advocates for integrating local and regional abatement strategies targeting key PM precursors (SO2, NOX, NH3, VOCs, and O3), as secondary aerosols remain a major challenge. For cities such as Barcelona, actions should focus on traffic and industrial emissions; for smaller towns like Manlleu, on agricultural and domestic combustion; and for megacities like Wuhan, on industrial processes. Continuous monitoring is essential to ensure compliance with the new EU Ambient Air Quality Directive (2024/2881).
By combining long-term trend analysis with high-resolution source apportionment, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of PM dynamics across diverse environments. The results underscore that air quality management must be site-specific, addressing local and regional processes to achieve sustainable reductions in PM and its health impacts.
