AirUCI selected by DOJ for grant funds

The California Department of Justice announced today that AirUCI is among the applicants selected to receive research funds to study air pollution from vehicle tires and brakes.  This is a groundbreaking project that involves 12 of our AirUCI faculty, headed by Primary Investigator Barbara Finlayson-Pitts, and spans the schools of Physical Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences. Along with AirUCI Project Scientists and other research staff, we are partnering with the Madison Park Neighborhood Association in Santa Ana, a non-profit environmental justice organization who will assist in collection of data and in communication of findings to local residents.
 
The funds, part of Volkswagen's settlement in 2016 for falsifying emissions data, are designated for research that addresses air quality issues, particlularly those affecting areas that are disproportionately exposed to vehicle emissions.  Barbara notes that even though emissions of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other gases are expected to drop as internal combustion engines decline as a power source for vehicles, tires and brakes and other sources of airborne grit will persist and are small enough to be inhaled.  This project aims to gain a better understanding of the health effects of these particles.  Read the article