REPLAY

Rubber recycling and recreational surfaces: the chemistry of vulcanised microplastics used in childrens playgrounds

Despite their intrinsically toxic chemistry, particulate materials created from vulcanised elastomers, notably as crumb rubber from worn tyres, commonly end up in environmentally sensitive areas such as children’s playgrounds and sports venues. Wear and tear of these synthetic materials re-introduced to the built environment then results in a whole new cycle of pollution by a list of organic chemicals and metals that is as long as it is poorly understood.
The main challenge of REPLAY is to devise a new protocol to collect and fully characterise vulcanised rubbers used in playground settings, including their inhalable fraction. We will produce an inventory of chemicals of concern present in these materials, focussing our heavyweight analytical laboratories to analyse for the polymers and their many additives. Our experiments with outdoor exposure conditions will mimic real-world weathering of playground surfaces. Particularly relevant here is the fact that these elastomers may adsorb and release environmental contaminants as they deteriorate with atmospheric exposure, potentially changing their affinities for metals and organics.

Funding: PROYECTOS EUROPA EXCELENCIA 2022, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. EUR2022-134037

Start Date: 01/12/2022 – End Date: 30/11/2024

Project Leader: Teresa Moreno Pérez

Researchers: Inés González de Castro

Funding: National Project

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

Start Date: 01/09/2022 – End Date: 31/08/2026

Project Leader: Marco Pandolfi

Researchers: Andrés Alastuey Urós , Xavier Querol Carceller

Support: Jordi Rovira Carpi

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.

3. 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

Researchers: Mar Viana Rodríguez , Ethel Eljarrat Esebag , Barend L. van Drooge , Lara Cioni

Support: Judith Desmet , Maria Antonia Aretaki (Μarianda)

Funding: European Project

NEXT

Non-EXhaust emissions from road Transport: Developing cost-effective measures based on impact on air quality, health and the implications of electric vehicles uptake.
During the last two decades, particulate matter (PM) emissions from vehicles exhaust have been reduced progressively (from 80-90% for Europe) to less than 50%, through the implementation of the EUROx (or similar) directives. Non-exhaust emissions instead (which consist of brake/tire/road wear and road dust resuspension), did not decrease or have even growth due to the lack of policies and increase of transport activity, representing now the dominant source of PM from traffic. The growing concern on non-exhaust PM is aggravated by three relevant aspects:

– the expected small benefit posed by electric vehicles penetration.
– the increase of average curb weight of new vehicles, mostly due to the penetration of SUV
– the expected high toxicity related to the oxidative stress induced by transition metals and redox active organics present in non-exhaust PM.

While immediate and long-run actions are needed in order to reduce their adverse effects, the scientific knowledge on non-exhaust emissions is scarce hampering a proper assessment of these emissions from both the technological and policy points of view. This proposal addresses key aspects where an improved scientific knowledge could be directly transferred to policy makers and industry in order to tackle non-exhaust emissions.

Start Date: 05/05/2022 – End Date: 30/04/2024

Project Leader: Fulvio Amato , Angeliki Karanasiou

Researchers: Angie Steffany Albarracín Melo , Federica Ippolito

Funding: National Project

AeroSolfd

Fast track to cleaner, healthier urban Aerosols by market ready Solutions of retrofit Filtration Devices for tailpipe, brake systems and closed environments

Emissions of the existing gasoline engines and brakes of the commercial vehicle fleets in Europe relate to health problems and death of annually >1,45 Mio. people. For the next decades, these vehicles will continue populating the roads, emitting PM/PN exhaust particles and toxic secondary emissions. For immediate reduction, retrofit solutions for tailpipe and brake emissions must be brought to TRL 8 and introduced to the market by 2025. Timing is crucial: Retrofits are transition technologies until full electrification of Europe’s transport fleet. Even beyond, brake retrofits play an important role in the electrified fleet. Quick wins in the reduction of the overall footprint of the existing fleets can be realised by using our 3 retrofits for tailpipe, brake and closed environments: 95% of PM2.5 and 80% of toxic secondary emissions using an innovative Gasoline Particle Filter, 60% of NOx exhaust emissions replacing the aged TWC by original equipment, 90% of the brake particles of long-lived road transport assets using a passive BDPF, 90% of particles in closed environments (bus stops, tunnels, metro stations) using a special designed and enhanced stationary air purifier.
To create credible key messages for clients, citizens and policy, we perform lighthouse demo activities:
1) tailpipe retrofit: 1.000 vehicles in 2 climate zones (Germany + Israel) for 4 representative engine type families,
2) brake retrofit: Define emission fingerprints for the public transport of the cities of Valladolid, Ancona, Fermo and Sofia and > 35000 km lab testing on dynamometer and > 8000 km real driving,
3) air purifier retrofit for closed environments: 3 underground stations (Sofia, 2x Lisbon) with > 130000 commuters and Valladolid central bus depot with > 150 buses. For market preparation we will reach >4.000 citizens and policy makers from EU KOM level and >8 EU countries. We unite world leading industry, renowned scientific institutes and lighthouse demo sites in 8 European countries

Funding: Horizon Europe, Horizon-CL5-2021-D5-01-15

Start Date: 01/05/2022 – End Date: 30/04/2025

Project Leader: Teresa Moreno Pérez

Researchers: Natalia Moreno Palmerola , Xavier Querol Carceller , Andrés Alastuey Urós

Funding: European Project

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: 31/12/2024

Researchers: Mar Viana Rodríguez

Support: Mercè Cabañas Albero , Verónica Moreno Martín , Rafael Bartrolí Solé

Funding: European Project

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/project/details/5727

Innovative technologies and socio-ecological-economic solutions for fire resilient territories in Europe

Extreme wildfire events (EWE) are becoming a major environmental, economic and social threat in Southern Europe and increasingly gaining importance elsewhere in Europe. As the limits of fire suppression-centered strategies become evident, practitioners, researchers and policymakers increasingly recognise the need to develop novel approaches that shift emphasis to the root causes and impacts of EWE, moving towards preventive landscape and community management for greater resilience. FIRE-RES integrates existing research, technology, civil protection, policy and governance spheres related to wildfires to innovate processes, methods and tools to effectively promote the implementation of a more holistic fire management approach and support the transition towards more resilient landscapes and communities to EWE.

Grant agreement ID: 101037419
Funding: EU H2020

Start Date: 01/12/2021 – End Date: 30/11/2025

Researchers: Mar Viana Rodríguez , Barend L. van Drooge , Stefan Platikanov , Aurelio Tobías Garces , Andrés Alastuey Urós , Jordina Gili Ciurana

Support: Aina Maín Nadal

Funding: European Project

https://fire-res.eu/

Uncovering the importance of the interaction between VOCs and rainwater

A novel and innovative approach integrating technologies to quantify the role of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in rainwater

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can directly influence in the physio-chemical characteristics of rainwater, since VOC dissolve into rain drops. This process can have important implications at ecosystem scale, since these chemically altered raindrops can alter soil and freshwater acidity, as well as the nutrient content, consequently affecting forest and crop productivity, surface water chemical composition and biodiversity loss. Therefore, I propose a novel and innovative approach integrating technologies to quantify the role of VOCs in rainwater. This project is aimed to design and construct an automatic rainwater VOC sampler prototype to be deployed for 1 year at a Mediterranean forest. Laboratory plant and soil experiments will also be performed to explore the effects of chemically modified rainwater in the ecosystems at the process level. At last, an integrated assessment and review will be performed to assess the impacts of VOCs in rainwater at a landscape and regional level.
Funded by: La Caixa Foundation Junior Leader Retaining fellowship

Start Date: 01/11/2021 – End Date: 30/11/2024

Project Leader: Ana María Yáñez Serrano

Funding: National Project

Research Infrastructures Services Reinforcing Air Quality Monitoring Capacities in European Urban & Industrial AreaS

The project aims to demonstrate how service tools from atmospheric research infrastructures can be adapted and enhanced to better address the challenges and societal needs concerning air quality in European cities and industrial hotspots. RI-URBANS responds to urgent needs to substantially reduce air pollution across the European Union by providing enhanced air quality observations in support of advanced air quality policy assessment.

We develop and enhance synergies between Air Quality Monitoring Networks (AQMNs) and research infrastructures in the atmospheric domain and combine advanced scientific knowledge and innovative technologies to develop pilot service tools. These will enhance the AQMNs capacity to evaluate, predict and support policies for abating urban air pollution. RI-URBANS deploys tools and information systems in the hands of citizens and communities to support decision-making by AQ managers and regulators. The focus is on ambient nanoparticles and atmospheric particulate matter, their sizes, constituents, source contributions, and gaseous precursors. RI-URBANS will evaluate novel air quality parameters, source contributions, and their associated health effects to demonstrate the European added value of implementing such service tools.

Funded by the European Commission’s call “European Research Infrastructures capacities and services to address European Green Deal challenges (LC-GD-9-1-2020)”

Start Date: 01/10/2021 – End Date: 30/09/2025

Project Leader: Xavier Querol Carceller

Researchers: Teresa Moreno Pérez , Fulvio Amato , Andrés Alastuey Urós , Angeliki Karanasiou , María Cruz Minguillón , Mar Viana Rodríguez , Marco Pandolfi , Joan Grimalt Obrador , Barend L. van Drooge , Meritxell Garcia i Marlès , Marjan Savadkoohi , Xiansheng Liu

Support: Alicia Arroyo , Ana Sotres Fernández , Alejandro Rodríguez Bermejo , Mercè Ratera Bastardas , Sergio de Campos Paus

Funding: European Project

https://riurbans.eu/

Next4Mob

Next Generation Tools for advanced mobility solutions

The main goal of Next4Mob is to build the basis for the next generation of innovative methods and an opensource toolset that advances the state-of-the-art in urban transport modelling and prediction, with a high level of applicability for decision-making in the field of transport and urban planning.
IDAEA will lead differents workplans which main objective is: to collect and analyze mobility, demographics, socio-economics, and land use data; to improve our knowledge of air pollutants in the city, to help predict their likely reductions resulting from the implementation of different scenarios that will be considered in the case studies in Next4Mob (such as low emission zones, LEZ) and to calculate the emissions for the whole city of Valladolid and for the low emission zone (LEZ) for different implementation scenarios, with varying types of restrictions.

Priority Line: Smart urban and metropolitan mobility strategies
Participants: IFISC-CSIX; IDAEA-CSIC; IEGD-CSIC; Transyt – Universidad Politecnica de Madrid UPM; Universidad de Cantabria; Autobuses Urbanos de Valladolid.
Funding: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (reference: PLEC2021-007824)

Start Date: 01/06/2021 – End Date: 31/05/2024

Project Leader: Teresa Moreno Pérez

Researchers: Mar Viana Rodríguez , Andrés Alastuey Urós , Fulvio Amato , Inés González de Castro

Funding: National Project