New Research Identifies Household Products and Buildings as Major Summertime Air Pollutants
New research from Colorado State University, the University of Minnesota, and Purdue University indicates that household products and building materials are increasingly significant sources of summertime urban air pollution. The study, published in Science Advances, found that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from items like hairspray, paint, and disinfectants, as well as building materials themselves, are major emissions in urban areas during warmer months. This contrasts with winter, when vehicle emissions are the primary source of urban air pollution. According to Delphine Farmer, a CSU chemistry professor involved in the research, these sources are not accurately accounted for in current air quality models used by cities and states. The research utilized an 'eddy covariance' method from a cellular tower in Long Island, New York, combining wind and chemical measurements to directly determine emission rates, a technique rarely used in urban studies. This approach allowed researchers to identify a broad ...
