California Air Resources Board (CARB) Awards UCR CE-CERT and Partners A Major Research Program on Non-Exhaust Emissions

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has awarded a team of experts, including the UCR's College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), Eastern Research Group (ERG), Ricardo, and LINK Engineering, a major research program focused on the measurements and characterization of non-exhaust emissions from in-use light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles.

The primary focus of this project is to develop and fabricate sampling systems and measurement protocols specifically designed for brake wear and tire wear particulate matter (PM) emissions. The project will involve the separate collection of PM2.5 and PM10 samples for brake and tire PM on-road, as well as measurements of particle number and particle size distributions.

Leading the project at UCR is Dr. Georgios Karavalakis, with support from co-principal investigators Dr. Kent Johnson, Dr. Heejung Jung, and Dr. Zisimos Toumasatos, all renowned researchers in the field.

The research program aims to enhance existing methods for measuring non-exhaust emissions from in-use vehicles, while also generating knowledge on the physical and chemical properties of non-exhaust PM emissions. By doing so, it seeks to contribute to the development of effective strategies for managing air quality and protecting public health.

The project involves the comprehensive analysis of brake and tire PM samples, with a focus on determining their chemical composition. Additionally, a subset of samples will undergo analysis to assess their toxicological properties, providing valuable insights into the potential health impacts associated with non-exhaust emissions.

This research program holds great promise in advancing our understanding of the environmental effects of brake and tire wear particles. As non-exhaust emissions gain increasing recognition as significant contributors to ambient air pollution, this initiative is at the forefront of efforts to address the issue and develop effective mitigation strategies.