The vision of the Aerosols and Health Group is to better understand the effect of air pollution on people's health and what role anthropogenic and natural emissions play now and in the future. While there are clear links between aerosol exposure and increased mortality and morbidity risk, little is known about how the properties of aerosols affect their toxicity and which emission sources are most important for human health.
Our mission is to quantify the aerosol sources and identify those most harmful to human health. To that end, we analyze aerosol archives with mass spectrometry and data mining techniques to identify aerosol sources around the world. Furthermore, we are interested in determining the role of particle sources, and thus their chemical and physical properties, in the harmfulness of particles to human health, both through emerging chemical metrics and on a population level. Moreover, we simulate air quality using our in-house model to describe the types of aerosols to which the population is exposed today and in a future shaped by emission reductions.
People
Group Head Aerosol and Health
PhD student
Recent Publications
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Baccolo G, Eichler A, Jenk T, Burgay F, Schwikowski M
A review on ice-cores from temperate glaciers: processes, signal preservation, and paleoclimatic significance
Journal of Glaciology. 2026; 72(e59): 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2026.10182
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Banos DT, Upadhyay A, Cheng Y, Jiang J, Vasilakos P, Nava A, et al.
High-resolution modelling of organic aerosol over Europe: exploring spatial and temporal variability and drivers
Environment International. 2026; 209: 110143 (14 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110143
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Colucci RR, Bohleber P, Aeschbach W, Luetscher M, Schwikowski M, Moseley GE, et al.
39Ar dating of cave ice combined with pollen, cryogenic calcite, and radiocarbon analyses reveals late Little Ice Age origin (Leupa Cave, SE Alps)
Journal of Glaciology. 2026; 72: e18 (15 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2026.10125
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Gabrielli P, Jenk TM, Bertó M, Dreossi G, Festi D, Kofler W, et al.
A multimillennial Alpine ice core chronology synchronized with an accurately dated Arctic Pb record
Climate of the Past. 2026; 22(5): 1037-1055. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-22-1037-2026
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Manousakas MI, Cui T, Wang Q, Qi L, Furger M, Cheung RKY, et al.
Evaluation of real-time source apportionment approaches in six Chinese cities using the AXA (ACSM, Xact, Aethalometer) instrumental set-up
Scientific Reports. 2026; 16: 9890 (19 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38154-x
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Rhyner TMY, Reymond O, Brunmayr AS, Mittelbach BVA, White ME, Blattmann TM, et al.
Intertwined weathering and metamorphic controls on river dissolved inorganic carbon in the interior of a mountain belt
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 2026; 412: 18-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2025.11.029
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Rovira J, Yus-Díez J, Chen GI, Močnik G, Gysel-Beer M, Aas W, et al.
Constraining the intensive absorption properties of ambient organic aerosol particles based on pan-European observations
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science. 2026; 9: 131 (15 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-026-01405-9
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Schneider-Beltran KS, Cui T, Casotto R, Lamkaddam H, Tobler A, Hao Y, et al.
Characterization of coarse organic particulate matter in urban and rural Switzerland using advanced offline mass spectrometry
Atmosphere. 2026; 17(2): 199 (32 pp.). https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17020199
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Vasilakos PN, Upadhyay A, Manousakas MI, Alastuey A, Allan JD, Alves CA, et al.
Rising dust pollution across Europe in a changing climate
Nature. 2026; 655(8123): 647-654. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10743-w
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Via M, Demšar J, Hao Y, Manousakas M, Rusanen A, Jiang J, et al.
Chemical sparsity in Bayesian receptor models for aerosol source apportionment
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. 2026; 19(6): 2175-2195. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-2175-2026
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Via M, Chazeau B, Gregorič A, Bauer M, Glojek K, Makorič P, et al.
Sarajevo severe fine aerosol burden: A European pollution hotspot
Environment International. 2026; 214: 110367 (14 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110367
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Wachs D, Spagnesi A, Bohleber P, Fischer A, Stocker-Waldhuber M, Junkermann A, et al.
A continuous 6000 a age depth relationship for the remainder of the Weißseespitze summit glacier based on 39Ar and 14C dating
Climate of the Past. 2026; 22(1): 173-185. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-22-173-2026
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Zhang Y, Cui S, Li J, Wang M, Xu X, Wang J, et al.
Urban black-carbon radiative heating intensified by biogenic–anthropogenic interactions
Nature Geoscience. 2026; 19: 439-446. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-026-01922-5
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van Caspel WE, Favez O, Jaffrezo JL, Uzu G, Daellenbach KR, El Haddad I, et al.
Aerosol source apportionment modelling using a coupled regional–urban scale system
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 2026; 26(12): 8575-8600. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-8575-2026
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Burgay F, Salionov D, Singer T, Eichler A, Brütsch S, Jenk TM, et al.
Nontarget screening of a Siberian ice core reveals changes in the pre-industrial to industrial organic aerosol composition
Science Advances. 2025; 11(4): eadr1923 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adr1923
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Cadeo L, Biffi B, Chazeau B, Colombi C, Cosenza R, Cuccia E, et al.
Intercomparison of online and offline XRF spectrometers for determining the PM10 elemental composition of ambient aerosol
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. 2025; 18(21): 6435-6448. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-6435-2025
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Daellenbach KR, Dada L
Tracing aerosol sources via measurements and data mining
Chimia. 2025; 79(5): 363 (1 pp.). https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2025.363
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Dominutti PA, Jaffrezo JL, Marsal A, Mhadhbi T, Elazzouzi R, Rak C, et al.
An interlaboratory comparison to quantify oxidative potential measurement in aerosol particles: challenges and recommendations for harmonisation
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. 2025; 18(1): 177-195. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-177-2025
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Dyonisius MN, Jenk TM
Ice core methods: studies of radiocarbon in ice
In: Elias S, ed. Encyclopedia of quaternary science. Ice core records. Oxford: Elsevier; 2025:206-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99931-1.00251-8
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Eichler A, Nalivaika P, Kakareka S, Kukharchyk T, Jenk TM, Singer T, et al.
Recent heavy metal pollution from the territory of the former Soviet Union (FSU): Ice core records and emission estimates
Science of the Total Environment. 2025; 983: 179632 (11 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179632
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El Haddad I, Daellenbach K, Slowik J, Dada L, Brem B, Prevot ASH
Particulate pollution around the world and its health implications
In: Brand H, Rao N, Jayaram D, eds. Climate change and public health. Governance and challenges. Singapore: Springer Nature; 2025:33-46. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-95-0895-2_3
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Hao Y, Strähl J, Khare P, Cui T, Schneider-Beltran K, Qi L, et al.
Transported smoke from crop residue burning as the major source of organic aerosol and health risks in northern Indian cities during post-monsoon
Environment International. 2025; 202: 109583 (16 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109583
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Heutte B, Bergner N, Angot H, Pernov JB, Dada L, Mirrielees JA, et al.
Observations of high-time-resolution and size-resolved aerosol chemical composition and microphysics in the central Arctic: implications for climate-relevant particle properties
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 2025; 25(4): 2207-2241. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2207-2025
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Heutte B, Angot H, Chen GI, Pernov JB, El Haddad I, Dada L, et al.
Sources and composition of organic aerosols in the central arctic during spring and summer
Environmental Science and Technology. 2025; 59(41): 21924-21940. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c09788
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Hou S, Jenk TM, Jiang W, Zhang W, Hu H, Feng X, et al.
A radiometric timescale challenges the chronology of the iconic 1992 Guliya ice core
Science Advances. 2025; 11(37): eadx8837 (14 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adx8837
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Huber CJ, Burgay F, Salionov D, Eichler A, Sharkov D, Jenk TM, et al.
Influence of meltwater percolation on preservation of organic aerosol tracers in glacier archives
Environmental Science and Technology. 2025; 59(46): 24767-24776. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c09791
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Jouanny A, Upadhyay A, Jiang J, Vasilakos P, Via M, Cheng Y, et al.
Machine-learning-driven reconstruction of organic aerosol sources across dense monitoring networks in Europe
Environmental Science and Technology Letters. 2025; 12(11): 1523-1531. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.5c00771
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Khare P, Kurdieh AA, Hao Y, Manousakas M-I, Dada L, Tobler A, et al.
Organic solvents-based offline aerosol mass spectrometry (SOff-AMS) for comprehensive chemical characterization of ambient organic aerosol
Environmental Science and Technology. 2025; 59(34): 18236-18248. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c08949
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Manousakas M, Rausch J, Jaramillo-Vogel D, Schneider-Beltran KS, Alastuey A, Jaffrezo J-L, et al.
Comparison of PM source profiles identified by different techniques and the potential of utilizing single-particle analysis data in source apportionment
Atmospheric Environment: X. 2025; 27: 100363 (11 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100363
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Manousakas MI, Zografou O, Canonaco F, Diapouli E, Papagiannis S, Gini M, et al.
Implementation of real-time source apportionment approaches using the ACSM–Xact–Aethalometer (AXA) setup with SoFi RT: the Athens case study
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. 2025; 18(16): 3983-4002. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3983-2025
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Manousakas MI, Zografou O, Canonaco F, Tobler A, Diapouli E, Gini M, et al.
Real-time PM monitoring: insights into composition analysis and source apportionment
In: González-Sálamo J, Hernández Borges J, eds. Microplastics in the environment: occurrence, fate and distribution. Advances in chemical pollution, environmental management and protection. London: Elsevier; 2025:23-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apmp.2025.04.001
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Münster TS, Jenk TM, Eichler A, Lee G, Schwikowski M
Performance of ICP-TOF-MS for ultra-trace element analyses in ice cores
Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry. 2025; 40(12): 3541-3552. https://doi.org/10.1039/D5JA00286A
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Navarro-Barboza H, Rovira J, Obiso V, Pozzer A, Via M, Alastuey A, et al.
Characterization of brown carbon absorption in different European environments through source contribution analysis
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 2025; 25(4): 2667-2694. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2667-2025
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Paglione M, Hao Y, Decesari S, Russo M, Mansour K, Mazzola M, et al.
Unraveling Arctic submicron organic aerosol sources: a year-long study by H-NMR and AMS in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 2025; 25(20): 12853-12874. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-12853-2025
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Sanchez-Lopez R, Matar C, Bravo C, Durán-Alarcón C, Jenk TM
Monitoring of Light Absorbing Impurities (LAIs) in snow and glaciers along the Central Andes
Recent Advances in Remote Sensing. 2025;(4): (8 pp.). https://doi.org/10.62880/rars25004
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Savadkoohi M, Gherras M, Favez O, Petit J-E, Rovira J, Chen GI, et al.
Addressing the advantages and limitations of using Aethalometer data to determine the optimal absorption Ångström exponents (AAEs) values for eBC source apportionment
Atmospheric Environment. 2025; 349: 121121 (14 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2025.121121
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Schneider MY, Jiang J, Chen Y, Aas W, Atabakhsh S, Aurela M, et al.
Analysis of source regions and transport pathways of sub-micron aerosol components in Europe
Environmental Pollution. 2025; 385: 127110 (10 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127110
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Shukla AK, Tripathi SN, Talukdar S, Murari V, Gaddamidi S, Manousakas M-I, et al.
Measurement report: sources and meteorology influencing highly time-resolved PM 2.5 trace elements at three urban sites in the extremely polluted Indo-Gangetic Plain in India
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 2025; 25(6): 3765-3784. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3765-2025
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Strähl J, Lechleitner FA, Laemmel T, Geissbühler D, Salazar GA, Daellenbach KR, et al.
An improved setup for radiocarbon analysis of water-soluble organic carbon in environmental matrices
Radiocarbon. 2025; 67(1): 220-233. https://doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2024.113
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Tassel C, Jaffrezo JL, Dominutti P, Daellenbach KR, Darfeuil S, Elazzouzi R, et al.
Oxidative potential of atmospheric particles in Europe and exposure scenarios
Nature. 2025; 647: 109-114. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09666-9
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Tian J, Wang Q, Zhang Y, Han Y, Qi L, Manousakas MI, et al.
A review of receptor model and new advances in source apportionment techniques for air pollution research
Aerosol Science and Engineering. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41810-025-00328-x
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Upadhyay A, Jiang J, Cheng Y, Vasilakos P, Chen Y, Banos DT, et al.
High-resolution modelling of particulate matter chemical composition over Europe: brake wear pollution
Environment International. 2025; 202: 109615 (13 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109615
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Zheng X, Tan Q, Ren J, Luo B, Song D, Feng M, et al.
Daytime ozone production determined by ratios of total volatile organic compound consumption to nitrogen oxide concentrations
ACS ES&T Air. 2025; 2(3): 331-342. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.4c00200
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Al Hallak M, Kurdieh AA, Yassine A, El Hage R, Saliba N
When do science recommendations stop being effective? The case of the sprawl of diesel electricity generators in Beirut
PLoS One. 2024; 19(12): e0313341 (15 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313341
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Bhattu D, Tripathi SN, Bhowmik HS, Moschos V, Lee CP, Rauber M, et al.
Local incomplete combustion emissions define the PM2.5 oxidative potential in Northern India
Nature Communications. 2024; 15(1): 3517 (13 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47785-5
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Cheung RKY, Qi L, Manousakas MI, Puthussery JV, Zheng Y, Koenig TK, et al.
Major source categories of PM2.5 oxidative potential in wintertime Beijing and surroundings based on online dithiothreitol-based field measurements
Science of the Total Environment. 2024; 928: 172345 (14 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172345
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Cui T, Manousakas MI, Wang Q, Uzu G, Hao Y, Khare P, et al.
Composition and sources of organic aerosol in two megacities in Western China using complementary mass spectrometric and statistical techniques
ACS ES&T Air. 2024; 1(9): 1053-1065. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.4c00051
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Daellenbach KR, Cai J, Hakala S, Dada L, Yan C, Du W, et al.
Substantial contribution of transported emissions to organic aerosol in Beijing
Nature Geoscience. 2024; 17(8): 747-754. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01493-3
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De Haan DO, Hawkins LN, Pennington EA, Welsh HG, Rodriguez AA, Symons MA, et al.
Kinetics and oligomer products of the multiphase reactions of hydroxyacetone with atmospheric amines, ammonium sulfate, and cloud processing
ACS Earth and Space Chemistry. 2024; 8(12): 2574-2586. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.4c00237
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Decker ZCJ, Alpert PA, Ammann M, Anet JG, Bauer M, Cui T, et al.
Emission and formation of aircraft engine oil ultrafine particles
ACS ES&T Air. 2024; 1(12): 1662-1672. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.4c00184
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El Haddad I, Vienneau D, Daellenbach KR, Modini R, Slowik JG, Upadhyay A, et al.
Opinion: How will advances in aerosol science inform our understanding of the health impacts of outdoor particulate pollution?
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 2024; 24(20): 11981-12011. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11981-2024
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Graham AM, Pope RJ, Chipperfield MP, Dhomse SS, Pimlott M, Feng W, et al.
Quantifying effects of long-range transport of NO2 over Delhi using back trajectories and satellite data
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 2024; 24(2): 789-806. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-789-2024
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Hobbie EA, Keel SG, Klein T, Rog I, Saurer M, Siegwolf R, et al.
Tracing the spatial extent and lag time of carbon transfer from Picea abies to ectomycorrhizal fungi differing in host type, taxonomy, or hyphal development
Fungal Ecology. 2024; 68: 101315 (8 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2023.101315
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Hobbie EA, Siegwolf R, Körner C, Steinmann K, Wilhelm M, Saurer M, et al.
Weather modifies the spatial extent of carbohydrate transfers from CO2-supplied broad-leaved trees to ectomycorrhizal fungi
Plant and Soil. 2024; 494: 717-730. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06314-x
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Kalberer M, Rothen-Rutishauser B, Daellenbach K, Sauvain JJ
Oxidative properties of atmospheric particles and their biological effects
Chimia. 2024; 78(11): 734-738. https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2024.734
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Li X, Li H, Yao L, Stolzenburg D, Sarnela N, Vettikkat L, et al.
Over 20 years of observations in the boreal forest reveal a decreasing trend of atmospheric new particle formation
Boreal Environment Research. 2024; 29(1-6): 35-52.
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Li K, Zhang J, Bell DM, Wang T, Lamkaddam H, Cui T, et al.
Uncovering the dominant contribution of intermediate volatility compounds in secondary organic aerosol formation from biomass-burning emissions
National Science Review. 2024; 11(3): nwae014 (9 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwae014
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Mehdi Q, Vasilakos P
Assessing the environmental justice implications of decarbonizing the US electric grid: estimating changes in asthma exacerbation by race and income
Environmental Research: Health. 2024; 2(4): 045003 (18 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5309/ad6eac
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Ren J, Hao Y, Zheng X, Li X, Xie S
Ozone response to precursors changes in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, China, from satellite and ground-based observations
Science of the Total Environment. 2024; 953: 176037 (11 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176037
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Rusanen A, Björklund A, Manousakas MI, Jiang J, Kulmala MT, Puolamäki K, et al.
A novel probabilistic source apportionment approach: Bayesian auto-correlated matrix factorization
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. 2024; 17(4): 1251-1277. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1251-2024
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Skiba A, Styszko K, Tobler A, Casotto R, Gorczyca Z, Furman P, et al.
Source attribution of carbonaceous fraction of particulate matter in the urban atmosphere based on chemical and carbon isotope composition
Scientific Reports. 2024; 14(1): 7234 (14 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57829-x
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Treydte K, Liu L, Padrón RS, Martínez-Sancho E, Babst F, Frank DC, et al.
Recent human-induced atmospheric drying across Europe unprecedented in the last 400 years
Nature Geoscience. 2024; 17: 58-65. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01335-8
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Wang T, Li K, Bell DM, Zhang J, Cui T, Surdu M, et al.
Large contribution of in-cloud production of secondary organic aerosol from biomass burning emissions
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science. 2024; 7(1): 149 (9 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-024-00682-6
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Zhang Y, Heikkinen L, Äijälä M, Peräkylä O, Graeffe F, Mickwitz V, et al.
Enhanced aerosol source identification by utilizing high molecular weight signals in aerosol mass spectra
ACS ES&T Air. 2024; 1(6): 502-510. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.3c00102
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Zheng F, Li J, Hua C, Xie J, Zhang Y, Li L, et al.
Dust event identification and characterization with one-year online observations in Beijing
Science of the Total Environment. 2024; 956: 177296 (14 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177296
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