Faculty/Research <
On Topic
Biological aerosols pose pollution threat, too
A German researcher has discovered unexpectedly large amounts of dandruff and other flaking skin, fur, pollen, and similar materials in air pollutants known as aerosols. Ruprecht Jaenicke of the Institute for Atmospheric Physics at Mainz University in Germany believes that biological materials can range up to 25 percent of aerosols in some areas, and as high as 40 percent in others.
Expert perspectives: "I guess people with allergies may not find this surprising, but these results are surprising to atmospheric scientists," says SPEA professor Phil Stevens. "The general consensus has been that biological materials only make up a small portion of atmospheric particles compared to dust, sea salt aerosols, and combustion. There has been a lot of research recently trying to explain the source of fine aerosols, both for issues of climate change and for health reasons, and these results suggest that biological material may be an important source. Many areas of the country are in violation of EPA's health standard for fine particulates, including several counties in Indiana. If the results of this study are confirmed for aerosols in other areas, it will impact current air quality control strategies. However, further research in this area is needed."
Adds SPEA professor J.C. Randolph, "I wasn't surprised by the findings. The Department of Energy has supported research in the role of aerosols in global climate change for several years now. However, the results are mixed in that some aerosols seem to reduce incoming solar radiation while others do not. So the counterbalancing effect of aerosols in the atmosphere on global climate change is still indeterminate."
The SPEA toolkit: The School of Public and Environmental Affairs offers a range of graduate and undergraduate courses related to global climate change, the science as well as the policy issues. Assistant Professor Phil Stevens focuses on the characterization of the chemical mechanisms that influence regional air quality and global climate change.
Read more about Professor Stevens here.
J.C. Randolph is Professor, Director, Ph.D. in Environmental Science Program and Director, Midwestern Regional Center of the National Institute for Global Environmental Change.
For more about Professor Randolph, click here.