Understanding air quality and its impact on health
Posted on 7 June 2010
Dr Jacqueline Hamilton and Sarah Moller, from the University of York’s Department of Chemistry, will examine the problems posed by nitrogen oxides that are emitted by traffic.The lecture will look at how the chemistry of nitrogen oxides differs in clean air environments and urban centres and their effect on ozone, another important air pollutant.
It will also focus on a second area of concern for local authorities, the concentration and chemical characteristics of small particles, also known as aerosols, in urban atmospheres which can be inhaled by people and find their way into the bloodstream.
Dr Hamilton said: “Particles can affect the climate, have large impacts on human health and can form in high numbers in the atmosphere during periods of sunny weather.
“Particles can be emitted directly to the atmosphere, from sources including fires or diesel engines, or they can be formed in the atmosphere but not very much is known about the chemistry of this.”
The lecture, on Thursday 10 June, will start at 7pm in room C/A/101 in the Department of Chemistry. Admission is free and open to all.
It is the latest in the “Science in the city” series of public lectures considering environmental issues facing York.
Further details about the lectures in this series and other public lectures hosted by the University of York on a wide range of topics can be found at www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/public-lectures/.
Notes to editors:
- The Department of Chemistry was ranked in the top ten in the country in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise and was recently placed fourth in the Times Good University Guide and fifth in the Independent Complete University Guide.
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