Current Research

Air pollution is a major threat to the health of the population as well as the environment. Pollution is caused by the release of any substance that modifies the natural composition of the atmosphere.

An important aspect of air pollution is atmospheric aerosols or particulate matter (PM). PM can be divided into three major categories: Total Suspended Particles (TSP), coarse particles (PM10), and fine particles, PM2.5 (aerodynamic radius < 2.5mm). A fourth category, ultrafine particles (PM<100nm) is increasingly recognized. Severe health problems are associated with PM pollution such as respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Environmental effects include visibility issues, climate effects, acidity of water surfaces and agricultural problems.

PM is very complex in nature and may consist of thousands of compounds. Major components of PM are organic matter such as poly aromatic hydrocarbons, inorganic species such as sulphates and nitrates, free or complexed elements, and black carbon.

In the group we focus on the physical and chemical nature and mitigation of PM