Polymers in secondary organic aerosols

01.10.2005 - 31.03.2010
Forschungsförderungsprojekt
Polymers in Secondary Organic Aerosol Project summary Recent experiments have shown that organic material in secondary organic aerosols (SOA) can polymerize leading to new high molecular weight compounds with mass up to 1000 Da. Such polymers are of concern regarding their potential adverse health effects and impact on air quality and climate. High molecular weight compounds have been found in ambient aerosols but their origin is unknown and their identification rudimentary. This project aims to apply and develop different sophisticated analytical methods to measure high molecular weight compounds of this SOA polymer and to characterize its chemical and physical bulk parameters. In a joint measurement campaign at a smog chamber a combined effort will be undertaken to identify and characterize these polymers produced from different precursors which dominate in anthropogenic and biogenic emission sources. Simultaneously, these SOA polymers will be applied on-line to cell culture systems which are representative for the inner surface of airways and/or alveoli. Particle-cell interactions will be investigated by ultrastructural and biochemical analyses. In addition, the cell cultures will be tested for the presence of reactive oxygen species and/or (pro)inflammatory proteins. A subset of the analytical tools will be deployed to analyse ambient samples of which selected samples will be applied to cell cultures. The project will provide a basis to assess the risk of this new category of airborne contaminants to health as well as the importance of these polymers and the polymerization process with respect to air quality and climate change. Since European research groups are at the forefront of this new scientific development, POLYSOA will significantly raise and strengthen the capabilities and scientific competitiveness of the European Research Area in this field.

Personen

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Projektmitarbeiter_innen

Institut

Grant funds

  • European Commission (EU) 6.FP: INNOVATION - Research and innovation 6.Rahmenprogramm für Forschung European Commission - Framework Programme European Commission Call identifier FP6-2003-NEST-B1 Application number 012719

Forschungsschwerpunkte

  • Environmental Monitoring and Climate Adaptation: 100%

Schlagwörter

DeutschEnglisch
Atmosphärische PolymereAtmospheric polymers
Sekundäres organisches AerosolSecondary organic aerosol
Feinstaubparticulate matter
Huminstoffartige VerbindungenHumic like substances

Publikationen