The Environmental Geochemistry and Atmospheric Research (EGAR) group investigates the chemical and physical processes responsible for the emission, transport, fate and removal of atmospheric pollutants that impact on human health and ecosystems. A major objective is to investigate measures (technological and non-technological) to improve air quality and reduce human exposure to air pollution. Main research lines include, air quality research, source apportionment assessment, atmospheric processes affecting air quality, aerosols and climate change (interpreting optical aerosol radiative effects), human exposure to air pollutants, including commuting, schools, occupational and other indoor and outdoor environments, industrial emissions and industrial wastes (environmental impact and utilisation).
https://www.idaea.csic.es/egar/
EGAR research on Air Quality aims at understanding the chemical and physical processes responsible for the emission, transport, fate and removal of atmospheric pollutants with impact on human health and vegetation. The main objective is to investigate measures (technological and non-technological) to reduce emissions, concentrations or human exposure.
Atmospheric aerosols affect the radiative balance of the Earth-atmosphere system and the Earth’s climate directly through scattering and absorption of solar radiation. Indirectly, by acting as cloud condensation nuclei, atmospheric aerosols can modify cloud properties and precipitation. Our aim is interpreting optical aerosol radiative effects as a function of their chemical and physical patterns and source contributions.
Major knowledge gaps remain regarding exposure to fine and ultrafine particles in indoor, commuting and outdoor environments. Our aim is investigating the pathways of human exposure to air pollutants in both types of environments, and to understanding and quantifying the contribution of different sources to outdoor, commuting and indoor exposure.
Industrial emissions from large industrial facilities (coal-fired power plants, ceramic and cement industry, refineries) are important sources of air pollutants (SOx, NOx, and particulate matter (PM)) producing also significant emissions to water and soil. We develop research on characterising emissions of trace pollutants with a major environmental impact and devising and testing the efficiency of emission abatement controls.
Since the earlier 1980s we develop research on environmental valorisation of industrial wastes with special emphasis on coal combustion/gasification residues. These wastes may be hazardous and we devise and test the efficiency of valorisation processes as well as pollutants immobilisation strategies in case of waste disposal.
Air-Phonema
Air pollution in hotspots: new metrics and source apportionment
Despite the significant improvements in air quality achieved in Europe over the last three decades, air pollution remains a major health problem. AIR-PHONEMA aims to assess the contribution of transport sources to ambient air pollution levels by measuring novel metrics of atmospheric aerosols and gaseous precursors and by conducting source distribution studies to PM, UFP and OP, in urban areas and in hotspots of traffic emissions. The ultimate goal is to assess the health effects of PM components and sources by combining toxicological and epidemiological studies.
To do this, we will combine continuous measurement at three supersites (transect: road traffic critical point, urban background, and regional background) with comprehensive measurement campaigns at transport hotspots (traffic location, airport, and port) in Barcelona. We will use a variety of state-of-the-art instruments to measure the UFP (from 1 nm) and PM chemistry (BC, metals, and organic aerosol-OA) and OP, at different time resolutions (from near real time to 24h resolution). We will apply receptor models and complementary analyses for source apportionment of the measured metrics. Specific objectives are to determine the concentrations of novel metrics of atmospheric aerosols and their precursors and o provide an updated quantification of the sources contributing to PM and UFP at urban areas and hotspots in urban areas and hotspots influenced by transport emissions (traffic, airport and harbour).
Funding: Ayuda PID2022-142160OB-I00 financiada por MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033/FEDER EU
Investigador responsable: Andrés Alastuey, Xavier Querol
Start Date: 01/09/2023 – End Date: 31/08/2026
UrbanVOC
Measurements and modelling for advancing knowledge of NMVOC concentrations in urban air and associated emission sources in Berlin and Barcelona
Non-methane hydrocarbons (NMVOCs) are trace gases of anthropogenic and biogenic sources. They are important precursors for the formation of secondary pollutants, such as ozone and secondary organic aerosol, which is a component of particulate matter. Some NMVOCs, such as benzene, also have direct adverse health effects. There are a number of research gaps related to NMVOCs and their role in urban air pollution. For one, there is a lack of measurements of NMVOCs in urban areas. This limits understanding of source sector contributions to total NMVOC emissions. Furthermore, the limited number of individual NMVOCs typically measured means that speciation profiles used for understanding source contributions and representation of NMVOCs in emission inventories needs improvement. Emission inventories are critical input for air quality models, important tools for atmospheric science research and policy support for mitigation air pollution. This combination of research gaps has resulted in limited capacity for assessing model performance for capturing NMVOCs. In the UrbanVOC project, we are bringing together expertise in measurements, modelling, and emissions, to make a coordinated effort to address the research gaps outlined above. Parallel measurement campaigns in Berlin and Barcelona will be carried out, that will allow for source apportionment analysis and new insights into source sector contributions and speciation. The measurement data and source apportionment results will also inform an assessment of the representation of NMVOCs in emission inventories. Two state-of-the-art air quality models will be run and evaluated at regional and local scale using the campaign data and improved emission inventory information. Finally, having two cities and two models will allow for comparisons and sensitivity analyses that will advance knowledge beyond that possible without this cooperation. Results will be broadly applicable to the European research community.
Research organization:
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
- GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Spain
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spain
Start Date: 01/01/2025 – End Date: 31/12/2027
Monitor en continuo, con alta resolución temporal, de concentración de múltiples metales en aerosoles atmosféricos.
Este equipamiento es parte de la ayuda EQC2024-008470-P, financiada por MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ y FEDER Una manera de hacer Europa.
Start Date: 01/01/2024 – End Date: 30/06/2026
FOCI
FOCI Project on „Non-CO2 Forcers and Their Climate, Weather, Air Quality and Health Impacts“.
The main goal of the new EC Horizon Europe project FOCI is to assess the impact of key radiative forcers other than CO2, where and how they arise, the processes of their impact on the climate system, to find and test an efficient implementation of these processes into global Earth System Models and into Regional Climate Models coupled with Chemistry Transport Models.
To constrain numerical sensitivity simulations a long-term comprehensive observational dataset of different climate-relevant species will be compiled using available information from a suite of observational networks/programmes/infrastructures such as GAW, ACTRIS, AERONET, EARLINET, among others.
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2021-D1-01-0
FOCI Project on „Non-CO2 Forcers and Their Climate, Weather, Air Quality and Health Impacts“.
The main goal of the new EC Horizon Europe project FOCI is to assess the impact of key radiative forcers other than CO2, where and how they arise, the processes of their impact on the climate system, to find and test an efficient implementation of these processes into global Earth System Models and into Regional Climate Models coupled with Chemistry Transport Models.
To constrain numerical sensitivity simulations a long-term comprehensive observational dataset of different climate-relevant species will be compiled using available information from a suite of observational networks/programmes/infrastructures such as GAW, ACTRIS, AERONET, EARLINET, among others.
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2021-D1-01-0
Start Date: 01/09/2022 – End Date: 31/08/2026
Funding: European Project
InChildHealth
Identifying determinants for indoor air quality and their health impact in environments for children: Measures to improve indoor air quality and reduce disease burdens.
InChildHealth will integrate health, environmental, technical and social sciences research to identify determinants for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and evaluate their impact in environments occupied by school children. We will focus on chemicals, particle concentrations, microorganisms and physical parameters in schools, homes, sports halls and transport. The IAQ of these environments determines the dose received by the children and may directly influence their health and well-being. An environmental epidemiological study and controlled interventions conducted in schools in three European cities will assess the health effects of multipollutant airborne exposures on respiratory infections, allergies, and neurological and cognitional symptoms. In addition, dose-response Will be evaluated with a novel cytotoxicity testing pipeline using in-vitro approaches. The InChildHealth consortium will cover an impressive variety of geographical and cultural diversity, with targeted exposure measurement campaigns and citizen involvement in seven European countries from Northern, Central and Southern Europe and interventions in Australia.
Horizon Europe, ref.: HORIZON-HLTH-2021-ENVHLTH-02-02
Start Date: 01/06/2022 – End Date: 31/05/2026
Funding: European Project
NANOHEALTH
Reducing nanoparticle exposures in industrial workplaces
The main objective of the LIFE NANOHEALTH project is to reduce occupational exposure to process-generated nanoparticles from permanently releasing industrial processes by optimising the performance of Risk Management Measures in indoor exposure scenarios. The aim is to clearly define the levels of concentration and risks posed by process-generated nanoparticles generated in industrial processes, as well as develop models for simulating the dispersion of these particles in indoor air and draw up engineering measures for minimising process-generated nanoparticles in industrial environments.
The project will contribute to meeting EU legislation on the health and safety of workers regarding the risk of nanomaterials at work in a cost-effective way, providing policymakers, authorities, professionals, and workers with a set of tools and technologies that will offer adequate solutions for addressing these risks.
LIFE Programme: LIFE20 ENV/ES/000187
Start date: 01/01/2022
End date: 01/07/2025
Start Date: 01/01/2022 – End Date: 01/07/2030
Funding: European Project
https://lifenanohealth.eu/en/home-page/
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