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Atmospheric Science of Air Pollution Phenomena—Current Directions Toward Exposure Characterization

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Technical Challenges of Multipollutant Air Quality Management

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Abstract

Any approach to multipollutant air quality management must consider the chemical transformation and fate of the relevant pollutant species that affect human health and welfare. Estimating exposure for a broader mix of pollutants (e.g. oxidants, hazardous air pollutants, or the chemical composition and size distribution of PM) requires improved understanding of the complex chemistry and physicochemical transformations of these compounds, their relevant precursors, and their lifetimes in time and space. This chapter provides insights into those processes most likely to affect this broad and complex mix of pollutants in terms of their distribution on the urban/regional and the local scale (i.e. 10’s–100’s of meters from a source). It is not the intent of this chapter to provide comprehensive review of the chemistry of the atmosphere (these can be found elsewhere), but to provide an overview of the atmospheric processes important to a multipollutant approach to air quality management.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the following contributing authors: Jeffrey R. Brook, George M. Hidy, Luisa T. Molina, Richard D. Scheffe, Wenfang Lei.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, University at Albany CESTM, 251 Fuller Road, 12203, Albany, NY, USA

    Kenneth L. Demerjian

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  1. Kenneth L. Demerjian
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Envair/Aerochem, Evergreen Drive 6, Placitas, 87043, New Mexico, USA

    George M. Hidy

  2. Environment Canada, Dufferin Street 4905, Downsview, M3H5T4, Ontario, Canada

    Jeffrey R. Brook

  3. , Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, University at Albany CESTM, Fuller Road 251, Albany, 12203, New York, USA

    Kenneth L. Demerjian

  4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Molina Center for Energy and the Environment, Holiday Court 3252, La Jolla, 92037, California, USA

    Luisa T. Molina

  5. Columbia Research and Education Associat, Pasco, 99301, Washington, USA

    William T. Pennell

  6. US Environmental Protection Agency, USEPA Mailroom, Research Triangle Park, 27711, North Carolina, USA

    Richard D. Scheffe

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Demerjian, K.L. (2011). Atmospheric Science of Air Pollution Phenomena—Current Directions Toward Exposure Characterization. In: Hidy, G., Brook, J., Demerjian, K., Molina, L., Pennell, W., Scheffe, R. (eds) Technical Challenges of Multipollutant Air Quality Management. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0304-9_7

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