The FTMC Department of Environmental Research has a new Doctor of Natural Sciences. Today, Daria Pashneva earned her PhD after successfully defending her dissertation "Atmospheric Black Carbon Aerosol Concentration Dynamics in an Urban Environment" (academic supervisor: Dr Steigvilė Byčenkienė).
We congratulate our colleague and wish her and her team continued success in their important research!
This thesis focuses on black carbon (BC) aerosol, often called soot, concentration in an urban environment, examining their seasonal variations, sources, and behavior both indoors and outdoors. Black carbon is a major component of fine particulate matter, primarily originating from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass burning. Despite its small size, black carbon significantly impacts air quality, climate change, and human health.
Daria Pashneva's research takes a comprehensive approach by investigating BC dynamics not only in outdoor air but also in indoor environments, where people spend most of their time. Additionally, the study evaluates the ability of urban trees to capture BC particles, providing insights into natural mitigation strategies.
(Photo: Pexels.com)
"This research is highly relevant as it addresses key air pollution concerns affecting public health and environmental sustainability, especially in urban environments. Black carbon contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, degrades indoor air quality, and accelerates climate change by absorbing incoming solar radiation.
Our study provides valuable information for policymakers, urban planners, and environmental agencies to develop effective pollution control measures. The findings on the role of urban greenery in capturing BC further emphasize the importance of integrating vegetation into city planning to improve air quality," says the physicist.
According to D. Pashneva, the study confirmed that biomass burning-related BC contributed around 20% of total BC indoors and outdoors, while fossil fuel-related BC dominated at 80%, highlighting fossil fuel combustion as the main BC source during Vilnius' heating season period.
(Dr Daria Pashneva and her academic supervisor Dr Steigvilė Byčenkienė. Photo: FTMC)
"Mechanical ventilation systems were found to significantly reduce indoor BC levels compared to outdoor concentrations, highlighting their importance in mitigating indoor air pollution. Seasonal variations showed that local emissions, particularly from residential heating, are major contributors to elevated BC levels during colder months.
One of the most promising findings is that all analyzed tree leaf and needle samples contained traces of BC, demonstrating the ability of urban greenery to act as a natural filter for airborne pollutants. This result underscores the potential of urban forestry as a sustainable approach to improving air quality," concludes the new PhD.
Info: FTMC