PRE2023-Contribution of transport sources to ambient air pollution levels in urban areas and in hotspots of traffic emissions (PID2022-142160OB-I00)

The PhD will focus in the framework of the project AIR-PHONEMA (AIR Pollution in HOtspots: NEw Metrics and source Apportionment). The main aim is to assess the contribution of transport sources to ambient air pollution levels by measuring novel metrics of atmospheric aerosols and gaseous precursors (such as ultrafine particles - UFP, ammonia - NH3, black carbon – BC, and oxidative potential - OP), and by conducting source distribution studies to PM, UFP and OP, in urban areas and in hotspots of traffic emissions. The ultimate goal is to assess the health effects of PM components and sources by combining measures of OP and epidemiological studies. To do this, we will combine continuous measurement at three supersites (transect: road traffic, urban and regional background) with comprehensive measurement campaigns at transport hotspots (traffic site, airport, and port) in Barcelona. The tasks of the predoctoral contract will focus on: • Measurement of the concentrations of UFP (>1 nm) and PM chemistry (BC, metals, and organic aerosol-OA) and OP, at different time resolutions (from near real time to 24h resolution) at urban areas and hotspots, by using a variety of state-of-the-art instruments. • Quantification of the sources contributing to PM and UFP by the application of novel receptor modelling methods. • Evaluation of the oxidative potential (OP) of PM components and sources.