Characterization of air pollution: chemical composition and modeling (CAPCHOM)

Description :

pollution represents an increasing environmental and public health concern, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region, where anthropogenic emissions of pollutants such as NOx, VOCs, and PM2.5 are on the increase. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) poses substantial health hazards, including respiratory illnesses and cancer, owing to its capacity to infiltrate the lungs deeply. The toxicity of PM2.5 is dependent not solely on its mass concentration but also on its chemical composition, which encompasses carbonaceous compounds, trace elements, and harmful organic chemicals such as phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). An effective method for evaluating PM health hazards is via its oxidative potential (OP), which indicates its ability to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and provoke oxidative stress. However, the source apportionment of OP is yet immature, necessitating stronger mathematical modeling and a better understanding of the chemical reactivity. The goal of this project is to expand the investigation of organic pollutants, improve OP source apportionment by employing advanced singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithms and to enhance Chemical Transport Models (CTMs) for better air quality forecasts for the EMME region. In the end, this initiative will give legislators important information to successfully reduce the negative health effects of air pollution.