Vocusing on VOCs

Madison Rutherford,
de Gouw Group, ANYL 3rd year talk

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) play an important role in atmospheric chemistry, whether it be in urban, indoor, or remote environments. Some, such as benzene, pose a direct threat to human health on their own, while others, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) can deplete stratospheric ozone. Many contribute to complex processes that lead to the formation of tropospheric ozone and particulate matter (PM). As a result, understanding where VOCs come from and how they transform is critical to improving air quality and making informed decisions to protect human health. This talk will discuss three projects investigating both urban and indoor air relevant to human health. First, we will discuss the use of Germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) lamps to deactivate viruses in indoor environments, and will focus on their impacts on VOC chemistry and the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Second, we will discuss mobile measurements of VOCs in Commerce City to investigate emissions from industrial sources and their impact on a polluted neighborhood. Third, we will begin to explore the emission of VOCs from different sources and processes in a landfill and how these emissions relate to methane production.