February 15, 2018

expert reaction to a study looking at the source of urban organic emissions

Volatile chemical products are emerging as the largest petrochemical source of urban air pollution, suggests new research published in Science.

Dr Stefan Reis, Science Area Head for Atmospheric Chemistry & Effects, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

“This study provides a new insight into the growing contribution of less well-known emission sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as policy interventions are implemented to regulate the more obvious emissions from road transport and solvent use. The study points to the relevance of indoor sources, which have been known to directly affect human health, for outdoor air quality via the formation of secondary organic aerosols. The research provides a vital step forward in our understanding of emerging, complex urban air quality challenges.”

Prof. Anthony Frew, Professor of respiratory medicine, Brighton & Sussex Medical School

“This research is a useful reminder that discussions of air pollution need to consider all sources of pollutants and that measures targeting cars only address part of the problem. Engineering changes to car exhausts have dramatically reduced the amount of pollution produced per mile, meaning that (a) there is now less to be gained from further changes to cars and (b) the public need more information on how their activities, apart from driving, contribute to current pollution levels.

“At the same time, this work doesn’t mean that traffic is unimportant: traffic remains an important source of pollution and we still need to reduce the number of vehicle-miles driven per year by personal and commercial vehicles!

“The work seems well done and raises important concerns about plastics, paints and other chemical products. Further work is needed to see whether these useful products can be produced in a way that is more environmentally friendly.”

Dr Jennifer Baxter, Head of Engineering at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said:

“Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs have long been known to be a part of the Greenhouse Gas emissions contributing to localised air pollution and climate change. This research from the United States is interesting and would require further validation in order to understand how it may translate to other parts of the world. In the UK, VOC emissions from products used in our built environment, such as internal and external paints are covered by EU Directives meaning that the legislative framework is very different to the United States.

“It is important that we continue to aim to reduce all harmful emissions which are detrimental to the air we breathe. Our recent report ‘A breath of Fresh Air’ suggests the use of local monitoring stations across our urban environment to analyse a wider range of pollutants would be a step to a cleaner future.”

* ‘Volatile chemical products emerging as largest petrochemical source of urban organic emissions’  by B.C. McDonald et al published in Science on Thursday 15 February 2018.

Declared interests

Dr Stefan Reis: None declared

Prof. Anthony Frew: None

No others received.