Organic chemistry associated with Oil Sands Production: From gas phase acidity to secondary organic aerosol formation

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The Athabasca deposit in Alberta is the largest oil sand in the world and is a powerful source of Canadian energy. Over the last decade a lot attention has been paid to the environmental impacts of oil sands production. Primary emissions associated with oil sands activities have been the focus of past research but less is known about the reaction products of these emissions to the atmosphere. In the SOCCAR Seminar held on September 14, Dr. Liggio, a research scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Air Quality Research Division, presented his research on the formation of organic acidity and secondary organic aerosol from oil sands activities. Continue reading

Chronic Exposure to Atmospheric Secondary Organic Particulate Matter Enhances Airway Hyper – responsiveness to Methacholine

It’s well known that exposure to air pollution increases the likelihood and health problems linked to cardiorespiratory diseases. Air pollutants consist of a mixture of gases and particulate matter such as secondary organic aerosols (SOA). SOA are formed through the oxidation of natural sources like plants and trees, as well as from industry emissions like naphthalene. Continue reading