According the World Health Organization, air pollution is responsible for the deaths of 7 million people annually. Hence, this research aims at characterizing concentrations, sources, and impacts of atmospheric pollutants to devise proper mitigation strategies. With a better understanding of atmospheric interactions, the consequences of the resulting air pollutants can then be characterized and furthermore, human activities can be modified by applying cleaner production and sustainability principles. Aerosols are liquid or solid particles in the atmosphere that have detrimental effects on humans as well as the environment. This project will focus on studying the formation of these particles especially the organic ones that are formed in the atmosphere due to reactions of their gaseous precursors, also known as secondary organic aerosols (SOA). In further understanding the precursors, sources and pathways that govern SOA formation, the effect that these specific reactions have on atmospheric aerosol loadings can be identified. This understanding will help in bridging the current gap between models and measurements and will further aid in formulating solutions to address the associated harmful impacts of air pollution on climate change
