Project Grant 2139848

This $667,306 project grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) will fund research into the atmospheric chemistry of methylated selenium compounds and the physicochemical properties of resulting aerosols. The awardee, Regents of the University of California at Riverside, will utilize an environmental chamber to quantify secondary organic aerosol formation from selenium-containing organic compounds. Gas and aerosol products will be analyzed using online and offline instrumentation to improve understanding of how long-term exposure to organic selenium compounds may negatively impact public health. Systematic studies of gas and aqueous phase oxidation of several methylated selenium compounds under varying nitrogen oxide levels using oxidants like hydroxyl, nitrate and ozone radicals will be conducted across oxidation time scales. The research aims to enhance knowledge of secondary aerosol formation from gas and aqueous phase oxidation of selected methylated selenium species and the chemical and microphysical properties of resulting aerosols influencing human health and environmental chemistry. The award period is from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025.