ASU Tackles Ozone Violations in Phoenix: Innovative Solutions for Cleaner Air in the Valley

Phoenix has gained notoriety for its poor air quality, ranking fifth in the nation for ozone pollution, according to the American Lung Association. As the Valley battles these environmental challenges, researchers at Arizona State University (ASU) aim to find solutions to the persistent issue of air pollution.

Professor Pierre Herckes, from ASU’s School of Molecular Sciences, points out that the Phoenix area frequently violates established ozone standards. “A crucial question is, ‘What can we do against it?’” he remarked, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Ozone is formed through a combination of sunlight, nitrogen oxides—a byproduct of vehicular emissions—and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Herckes explains that VOCs are gaseous substances that often have noticeable odors. These compounds can originate from both human activities, such as gasoline use and consumer products, and from natural sources like plants.

The ASU study, funded by a grant from the Arizona Board of Regents, seeks to deepen the understanding of how natural VOCs contribute to ozone levels in the Valley. Herckes and his colleague Matthew Fraser are leading this pivotal research with help from PhD students Trinity Olguin and Gabby Cano. Their focus is on how VOC emissions vary with rising temperatures typical of a Phoenix summer.

“We can control regulations regarding human sources, but biogenic sources are another matter,” Herckes said, emphasizing the complexities involved in addressing air quality. “Nobody would propose cutting down all the trees.”

This study is notably one of the first to explore these dynamics in Phoenix’s unique climate. Olguin stated, “The amount of gases released from vegetation changes with temperature. We’re investigating how these emissions fluctuate during extreme heat, as we haven’t measured those variables yet.”

To gather data, the team has installed equipment across three different locations in the Valley, monitoring VOC emissions continuously. A recent measurement was completed in a west Phoenix neighborhood, followed by data collection in a natural desert area of Mesa. The final phase will take place at an agricultural site.

“Different plants emit different VOCs, and understanding these variations is crucial as both desert flora and agricultural fields contribute to the Phoenix air quality dilemma,” Olguin noted.

The ultimate goal of the research is to develop improved strategies for managing the Valley’s air quality by accurately assessing the impact of natural VOCs on ozone levels. Herckes emphasized, “This approach will allow us to tackle air pollution effectively without resorting to drastic measures like removing vegetation.”