EPIC-AIR

Fingerprinting Climate Change and Air Pollution Culprits (EPIC-AIR)

Welcome to EPIC-AIR

Welcome to the EPIC-AIR: Fingerprinting Climate Change and Air Pollution Culprits, a pioneering research initiative dedicated to tackling the intertwined challenges of air pollution and climate change.

The project aims to investigate the sources and effects of harmful air pollutants, such as organic matter (OM) and black/brown carbon (B&BC), to better understand their impacts on human health and climate through radiative forcing. Sponsored by Research Ireland under the former SFI Frontiers for the Future Programme 2021, EPIC-AIR is hosted at the Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies (C_CAPS), University of Galway, and leverages on the use of advanced technologies and expertise to deliver the ground-breaking solutions.

The project has three main objectives:

1. Understand Aerosol Toxicity: Develop a clear understanding of the fundamental factors influencing oxidative stress by deploying a near-real time Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS).
2. Characterize Radiative Properties: Study the radiative effects of toxic aerosols, both primary and secondary, through ambient and laboratory-based research.
3. Model Climate-Health Interactions: Assess the effects of climate mitigation on human health-and vice versa-by integrating carbonaceous aerosol data into a unified air quality-climate model.

This website serves as a resource to explore the project’s goals, methodologies, and progress, while offering opportunities to engage with and participate in this crucial study.

About the Project

The EPIC-AIR: Fingerprinting Climate Change and Air Pollution Culprits is a new project that aims at addressing the intertwined challenges of air pollution and climate change. By investigating the harmful air pollutants such as organic matter (OM) and black/brown carbon (B&BC), this project seeks to understand their effects on human health and role in influencing climate change through radiative forcing. Hosted at C_CAPS, at the University of Galway, this project is funded by the Research Ireland under the former Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Frontiers for Future Programme 2021 and is expected to be complete by 2028.

The project will develop a comprehensive understanding of the factors that drive oxidative stress, (a measure of aerosol toxicity) by deploying near-real time Aerosol Mass Spectrometry (AMS), enabling the accurate identification of toxic aerosol sources, chemical composition and impact. Secondly, the project will investigate the radiative effects of toxic aerosols, both the primary and secondary, through detailed ambient and laboratory-based studies, quantifying their role in warming or cooling the atmosphere. Finally, the EPIC-AIR project will integrate carbonaceous aerosol data into a unified air quality-climate model to assess the bidirectional relationship between climate mitigation efforts and human health.

Through these efforts, EPIC-AIR seeks to provide actionable insights to improve air quality, mitigate climate change, and protect public health.

Interested in participating in the study? Contact Us...

EPIC-AIR Project Team

The EPIC-AIR Project Team includes:

• Jurgita Ovadnevaite (Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies (C_CAPS), University of Galway)
• Liz Coleman (Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies (C_CAPS), University of Galway)
• Matteo Rinaldi (National Research Council of Italy (CNR)-Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate)
• Professor Ru- Jin Huang (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Earth Environment)
• Lu Lei (Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies (C_CAPS), University of Galway)
• David Nganga (PhD Student, Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies (C_CAPS), University of Galway)

Contact Us

We welcome enquiries about the project. Please contact:

Jurgita Ovadnevaite

Associate Professor

School of Natural Sciences, Physics, University of Galway

Deputy Director of Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Ryan Institute

University Road, Galway H91 CF50

Ireland.

Email: jurgita.ovadnevaite@universityofgalway.ie

Further Information

Further information on the air pollution sources in Ireland can be found on the EPA Website under EPA Research Reports no. 385.

Further information on reactive oxygen species and how they can be used as proxies for understanding the toxicity of air pollutants can be found on the Health Effects Institute Report (Research Report 215).

Further information on residential solid fuel use in Ireland and the transition away from solid fuels in the country can be found on the EPA website (Research 407).

Further information on the effect of air pollution control on death rates in Dublin, Ireland can be found on the Lancet Website (volume 360, issue 9341).

Further information on aerosol effects on climate change through radiative forcing can be found in the EPA Website (Report 49).

Further information on anthropogenic and natural radiative forcing can also be found on the IPCC Website: “Clouds and Aerosols. In: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change”.

Press Releases:

What can be done to combat air pollution in Europe? – The Guardian - Thu 21 Sept 2023.

Firelighters pose massive risk to climate and health, Irish scientists discover – Irish Independent - Mon 28 Aug 2023.

University of Galway-led study finds domestic firelighters are a major contributor to climate change – Galway Advertiser - Thu 31 Aug 2023.

‘Green’ home heating fuels causing ‘extreme levels of air pollution’ – The Irish Times - Fri 14 Sept. 2018.