AAAS AMA: Hi, we’re scientists from NOAA and research universities who
analyze the sources of pollution and recently published a study in
Science Magazine. Ask us anything!
Abstract
As transportation emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have
decreased due to stricter controls on air pollution, the relative
importance of chemical products such as pesticides, coatings, printing
inks, adhesives, cleaning agents, and personal care products has
increased correspondingly. In a recent study we published in Science
Magazine, we show that these volatile chemical products now contribute
fully one half of emitted VOCs from petrochemical sources in Los
Angeles. We hope these results will spur additional research and inform
decisions about mitigating sources of ground-level ozone, fine
particulate pollution, and air toxics. If you want to know more about
how paints, pesticides, and perfumes contribute to pollution - ask us
anything! Dr. Brian McDonald is an atmospheric scientist at the
University of Colorado Boulder who works at the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, and whose expertise is on air quality models
and emission inventories Dr. Chris Cappa is a professor at the
University of California, Davis in the Dept. of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, whose work centers on the sources, fate and impacts of
small particles in the atmosphere Dr. Jessica Gilman is a Research
Chemist at NOAA and specializes in the measurement and chemistry of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere. Dr. Joost de Gouw
is a senior research scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research
in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. His
expertise is in the sources and transformations of organic compounds in
the atmosphere.