Research
Of the main routes of exposure to environmental contaminants (dermal contact, ingestion, inhalation), inhalation is of the most concern to human health because we cannot control what we breathe as well as what we touch or eat. In fact, we are still discovering ways in which the inhalation of air pollutants (especially aerosols) affects health. We now know that air pollution shortens millions of lives per year. Beyond that, we are curious about chronic, low-dose exposure levels that may be linked to conditions that we are still discovering. For example, exposure to PM2.5 (particulate matter < 2.5 micrometers) has been recently tied to mental health issues, such as brain aging and anxiety.
We are interested in using engineering concepts to characterize emissions of aerosols (small particle or droplets suspended in air) from everyday sources and their subsequent transformations, with a main focus on indoor air quality and personal exposure. Aerosol measurements can aid in developing tools and strategies to control emissions and minimize exposures, especially to vulnerable populations—such as children and the elderly, and incidentally exposed populations (i.e., bystanders of a certain activity). Applications of our research include evaluating physical and chemical transformations of aerosols indoors and outdoors and assessing emissions to inform "safer by design" consumer products. Our mission is to perform research that will lead to positive impact in human health and the environment.
Main research topics and measurements
- Formation, transport, and fate of aerosols, ranging from ultrafine (<100 nm), fine (< 2.5 µm), to coarse (>2.5 µm).
- Physical and chemical characterization of particulate matter using single-particle techniques, such as electron microscopy.
- Evaluation and use of low-cost sensors for air pollution measurements indoors and outdoors.
- Assessment and minimization of people's exposure to environmental contaminants.
- Ambient and source aerosol sampling and characterization.
Our work includes experimental measurements in the following scales:
- Controlled laboratory measurements in chambers
- Collaborative field measurements in test houses
- Field studies in real indoor and outdoor environments
- Personal exposure
Some of our Laboratory Instrumentation include:
- TSI Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) systems, including a 1-nm SMPS, nano DMA, and long DMA.
- TSI Nanoscan portable SMPS system + Optical Particle Sizer (OPS) for size distributions 12 - 10,000 nm.
- Kanomax Aerosol Particle Mass Analyzer.
- TSI laser photometer.
- Aethlabs 5-wavelength aethalometers.
- Thermodenuder.
- Atomizers and other aerosol generators.
- Table-top chambers.
- A 38 cubic meter aerosol emissions evaluation room, separate from the building's HVAC system, with a independent 30 ACH flushing system.
- Access to GC-MS, ICP-MS, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and other shared facilities.
Ongoing projects
Assessing the Transport of Wildfire-Generated Particulate Matter Into Homes and Developing Practical Interventions to Reduce Human Exposure (WildPM)
Funding
EPA STAR Early Career Award, College of Engineering DLA and SPUR undergraduate research programs.
Project members
Rileigh Robertson (PhD student), Henrik Helmig (undergraduate student), Smit Ajmera (MS student), Surya Goda (MS student), Liora Mael (postdoctoral associate), Avery Hatch (graduate student), Prof. Marina Vance.
Physical transformations of aerosols after transport between indoor and outdoor environments
Funding
NSF CAREER Award, College of Engineering DLA and SPUR undergraduate research programs.
Project members
Sofie Schwink (PhD student), Ethan Richter (undergraduate student), Max Schmid (undergraduate student), Tony Hao (undergraduate student), Prof. Marina Vance.
Project Description
The goal of this project is to better understand how aerosol particles transform as they move between indoor and outdoor environments and elucidate the implications of this process on aerosol size distributions, effective density, and ability to form secondary organic aerosols (SOA) from everyday indoor sources, such as personal care products and cleaning products. This project includes the CLEAN Home Indoor Field Study: Consumer products, Lights, Environmental Air cleaning in Normal conditions.
CLEAN Home Indoor Field Study: Consumer products, Lights, Environmental Air cleaning in Normal conditions.
Funding
NSF, College of Engineering DLA and SPUR undergraduate research programs.
Project members
Sofie Schwink (PhD student), Ethan Richter (undergraduate student), Prof. Marina Vance, and other colleagues. Once the team is fully formed, we will update this description.
Project Description
We are planning a collaborative field campaign in Summer 2025 to investigate secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation and properties from the use of volatile chemical products (VCPs), indoor penetration of biomass burning smoke, and the use of different light sources inside a home in Boulder.
Assessment of Particulate Matter Concentrations in Java, Indonesia Using Low-Cost Fixed and Mobile Sensors: Implications for Local Air Quality Monitoring
Funding
Fulbright US Scholar
Project member
Prof. Marina Vance
Local host and key collaborators
Prof. Rizaldi Boer, Pak Bregas Budianto, Mr. Gito Immanuel and others at IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia.
Project description
This project funded Prof. Vance's sabbatical research experience for nine months at IPB University in Bogor, Indonesia (2023 - 2024).
Chemical Assessment of Surfaces and Air (CASA)
Funding
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, College of Engineering DLA and SPUR undergraduate research programs.
Project members
Liora Mael (postdoctoral associate), Andrew Martin (MS student), Sofie Schwink (PhD student), Max Schmid (undergraduate student), Thomas Dunnington (undergraduate student), Nicholas Gotlib (undergraduate student), Prof. Marina Vance (co-PI), plus many colleagues from other institutions.
Project description
CASA was a large-scale, collaborative indoor chemistry field campaign that took place in Spring 2022. CASA was led by Prof. Delphine Farmer (CSU) and Prof. Marina Vance (CU Boulder) at the NIST net-zero energy residential test facility, in Gaithersburg, MD. Our host at NIST was Dr. Dustin Poppendieck and the team included an array of researchers, including 14 research groups from 12 different universities.
Publication highlights
Farmer et al. (2025) The chemical assessment of surfaces and air (CASA) study: using chemical and physical perturbations in a test house to investigate indoor processes
IndoorChem: A community of researchers in the chemistry of indoor environments
Funding
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Project members
Prof. Marina Vance (CU Boulder), Prof. Delphine Farmer (CSU).
Completed Projects
Impacts of aging and relative humidity on properties of biomass burning smoke particles
Funding
NSF, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, College of Engineering DLA and SPUR undergraduate research programs.
Project members
Sofie Schwink (PhD student), Liora Mael (postdoctoral associate), Thomas Dunnington (undergraduate researcher), Max Schmid (undergraduate researcher), Nicholas Gotlib (undergraduate researcher), Jonathan Silberstein (PhD student, Hannigan group), Andrew Heck (undergraduate researcher, Hannigan group), Prof. Mike Hannigan (CU Boulder), Prof. Marina Vance (CU Boulder).
Project description
Controlled chamber measurements of particle size distributions, density, and aerosol liquid water content from aged and fresh smoke at different relative humidity levels.
Publication highlights
Schwink et al. (2025) Impacts of Aging and Relative Humidity on Properties of Biomass Burning Smoke Particlees
Sustained Air Quality Impacts of the Marshall Fire in Boulder County
Funding
NSF RAPID, CU Boulder CIRES.
Project collaborators
Prof. Joost De Gouw (Principal Investigator, CU Boulder), Prof. Christine Wiedinmyer (CU Boulder), Prof. Mike Hannigan (CU Boulder), Prof. Marina Vance (CU Boulder), Prof. Colleen Reid (CU Boulder), and a large team of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
Project description
This project was a rapid response to investigate the effects of the wildfire in the affected community and in the indoor air quality of buildings influenced by the wildfire plume.
Publication highlights
Silberstein et al. (2023) Residual impacts of a wildland urban interface fire on urban particulate matter and dust: a study from the Marshall Fire
Dresser et al. (2024) Volatile Organic Compounds Inside Homes Impacted by Smoke from the Marshall Fire
This project was a recipient of the 2022 Governor’s Awards for High-Impact Research
Aerosol generation from playing band instruments and risk of infectious disease transmission
Funding
National Federation of High School Associations
Project collaborators
Prof. Shelly Miller (Principal Investigator, CU Boulder), Prof. Marina Vance, Prof. Jean Hertzberg, Prof. Darin Toohey (CU Boulder), Prof. Jelena Srebric (University of Maryland), Prof. Don Milton (University of Maryland), Tehya Stockman (PhD student lead, Miller group), Abhishek Kumar (graduate student, Hertzberg group), Lingzhe Wang (Srebric group), and a team of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
Project description
This project investigated the emission of respiratory aerosols from playing a variety of musical instruments, singing, and performance.
Publication highlights
Stockman et al. (2021) Measurements and simulations of aerosol released while singing and playing wind instruments
Wang et al. (2022) Characterization of aerosol plumes from singing and playing wind instruments associated with the risk of airborne virus transmission
In the news
Aerosol research instrumental in getting musicians back to playing safely
Can singing and wind instruments be made safe during coronavirus? Colorado researchers are trying to find out
Simple safety measures reduce musical COVID-19 transmission
House Observations of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry (HOMEChem)
Funding
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Project members and collaborators
HOMEChem included a large team of scientists (see the project description page, linked below). From the Vance group: Sameer Patel (postdoctoral associate), Sumit Sankhyan (MS/PhD student).
Project description
HOMEChem was the largest indoor chemistry field campaign to date, led by Prof. Marina Vance and Prof. Delphine Farmer (CSU) at the UTest House at UT Austin in Summer 2018. Our local host was Prof. Atila Novoselac from UT Austin and the team included over 60 researchers from over 20 research groups in 13 universities plus several governmental and industrial partners.
Publication highlights
Farmer et al. (2019) Overview of HOMEChem: House Observations of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry
Patel et al. (2020) Indoor particulate matter during HOMEChem: Concentrations, size distributions, and exposures
Patel et al. (2021) Aerosol dynamics modeling of sub-500 nm particles during the HOMEChem study
Sankhyan et al. (2021) Indoor black carbon and brown carbon concentrations from cooking and outdoor penetration: Insights from the HOMEChem study
In the news
The New Yorker | The hidden air pollution in our homes
Performance of mask filter materials for filtration and inhalation resistance
Funding
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Project members and collaborators
Sumit Sankhyan (PhD student), Sameer Patel (postdoctoral associate), Hannah Teed (undergraduate student), Prof. Marina Vance (CU Boulder), Karen N. Heinselman (NREL), Peter N. Ciesielski (NREL), Teresa Barnes (NREL), Michael E. Himmel (NREL)
Project description
Improving our understanding of different materials' efficiencies to filter airborne particles of sizes of interest to virus transmission for face mask applications.
Publication highlight
Sankhyan et al. (2021) Filtration Performance of Layering Masks and Face Coverings and the Reusability of Cotton Masks after Repeated Washing and Drying
In the news
Don’t throw that cloth mask away yet—it still works
Photovoltaic panel soiling and weathering
Funding
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Project members and collaborators
Sarah Toth (PhD student), Brittany Nixon (MS student), Prof. Mike Hannigan (CU Boulder), Prof. Marina Vance (CU Boulder), Michael Deceglie (NREL)
Project description
This project investigated the effects of particulate matter (PM) accumulation on the efficiency of PV panels.
Publication highlights
Toth et al. (2019) Enhanced Photovoltaic Soiling In An Urban Environment
Toth et al. (2020) Predicting Photovoltaic Soiling From Air Quality Measurements
In the news
Scientists Studying Solar Try Solving a Dusty Problem
Home sensors: Evaluating the use of low-cost particulate matter sensors in homes
Funding
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, College of Engineering DLA and SPUR undergraduate research programs.
Project members
Sumit Sankhyan (MS/PhD student), Julia Witteman (undergraduate student), Sameer Patel (postdoctoral associate), Steven Coyan (undergraduate student), Prof. Marina Vance (CU Boulder)
Project description
Field measurements in four different homes including the use of a portable air cleaner in the kitchen and in the bedroom.
Publication highlight
Sankhyan et al. (2022) Assessment of PM2.5 concentrations, transport, and mitigation in indoor environments using low-cost air quality monitors and a portable air cleaner
Aerosol emissions from cooking oils
Funding
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, College of Engineering Dean's Innovation Research Assistantship, College of Engineering DLA and SPUR undergraduate research programs.
Project members
Sumit Sankhyan (PhD student, CU Boulder), Kayley Zabinski (undergraduate researcher, CU Boulder), Steven Coyan (undergraduate researcher, CU Boulder), Sameer Patel (postdoctoral associate, CU Boulder), Prof. Rachel E. O'Brien (University of Michigan), Prof. Marina Vance (CU Boulder).
Project description
Controlled laboratory measurements of particle size distributions and volatility from a variety of cooking oils at multiple cooking temperatures.
Publication highlight
Sankhyan et al. (2022) Aerosol emissions and their volatility from heating different cooking oils at multiple temperatures
Past projects (before joining CU Boulder)
- Emissions of ultrafine aerosols from 3D printers.
- Characterization of nanoscale components of dust and aerosols in the city of Shanghai, China (2014 - 2016).
- NanoEarth: The Virginia Tech National Center for Earth and Environmental Nanotechnology Infrastructure (project ongoing, my participation ended in 2016).
- Keeping track of nanotechnology in the real world: Redeveloping the Wilson Center’s Nanotechnology Consumer Products Inventory (2013 - 2015).
- Children's exposure to silver nanoparticles in nanotechnology-enabled consumer products (2010 - 2012).
- Consumer exposure to silver nanoparticles in spray products (2008 - 2012).
- Cal-Mex: Atmospheric Studies in the US-Mexico Border Region (2010).
- Indoor air quality in a Brazilian hospital (2007 - 2008).
- Development of methods for sampling and characterizing odorous air samples (2003 - 2008).
- Olfactometry and impact assessment of odors and VOCs in the vicinity of industrial sites (2003 - 2008).