December 4, 2020
Common disinfectants used against coronavirus can be harmful: experts
“There are a lot of cleaning products or disinfecting products that have potential harms, especially if they’re used a lot or used improperly,” Jeffrey Siegel, a professor of civil and mineral engineering at the University of Toronto, told Global News. Read more
November 16, 2020
SOCAAR establishes collaboration with the Aerosol Science Research Centre in Taiwan
SOCAAR held an online symposium with the Aerosol Science Research Centre (ASRC) at the National Sun Yat-Sen University in Taiwan on November 2 and 16. Sixteen presenters from SOCAAR and ASRC shared their research with 50 participants, including faculty, students and companies participated through two sessions that concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)between the two universities. This MoU will open the door to future collaborative research across many areas of shared interest including the impact atmospheric aerosol on climate change, indoor air quality, sources of pollutants and emission control, toxicity of anthropogenic aerosol, health risk assessment, as well as aerosol education outreach and strategies.
The Aerosol Science Research Center is the only PM2.5 Research Center in Asia. Since its establishment in 2016, it has been actively engaged in various research activities, including exploring the impact of aerosol on ocean ecology and climate change, emission reduction strategies for various sources of PM2.5, and the impact of PM2.5 on human health.
November 12, 2020
City partners with U of T, other local colleges and universities on COVID-19 research
U of T will be working with Ryerson University on a study of how COVID-19 has affected air pollution, with changes in transportation patterns, energy use and employment and industrial operations before, during and after the pandemic. Read more
November 9, 2020
The Next Covid Dilemma: How to Make Buildings Breathe Better
In an interview with Wired, Prof. Jeffrey Siegel shares his experience of testing the indoor air quality of one big-box store. Read more
August 27, 2020
How to get clean air indoors when it’s barely safe to breathe outside
Listen to Prof. Jeffrey Siegel's interview on Marketplace where he explains how to improve indoor air quality through ventilation and filtration. Read more
August 19, 2020
Coronavirus is in the air. Here’s how to get it out.
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Prof. Jeffrey Siegel says the first thing to do in thinking about cleaning the air is to think about limiting the source of the contagion in the first place. Read more
August 19, 2020
A New Study Suggests a Possible Disease Vector: Germy Dust
Prof. Jeffrey Siegel comments on the need for improving ventilation and sanitation measures for the Covid-19 era, including being extra cautious when changing air filters—wearing protective gear, doing it outside. Read more
August 16, 2020
'Neglected' school ventilation systems worry parents, experts during COVID-19 pandemic
Now is the golden opportunity to update outdated heating, ventilating and air conditioning, or HVAC, systems in many buildings--especially in schools, says Prof. Jeffrey Siegel in an interview with CBCNews. Read more
August 15, 2020
What you need to know about ventilation as Ontario prepares for back to school in the age of COVID-19
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Prof. Jeffrey Siegel talks about the need for systematically and carefully dealing with ventiliation in schools. Read more
August 13, 2020
How cutting speed limits could slow climate change
Prof. Marianne Hatzopoulou spoke to CBC News about how cutting speed limits can reduce emissions on city streets. Read more
July 27, 2020
New Canada Research Chairs boost research into clean air and sustainable resource extraction
Professor Arthur Chan is one of two U of T Engineering professors to have been awarded new Canada Research Chairs.
Professor Arthur Chan (ChemE) is the new Canada Research Chair in Atmospheric Chemistry and Health.is the new Canada Research Chair in Atmospheric Chemistry and Health. Read more
July 16, 2020
Personal exposures to traffic-related air pollution in three Canadian bus transit systems: the Urban Transportation Exposure Study
SOCAAR researcher Keith Van Ryswyk, publishes his findings on the assessment of the personal TRAP exposures of the bus transit systems of Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver. Read more
July 6, 2020
Evolving evidence of airborne transmission of virus
Prof. Greg Evans speaks to Dawna Friesen on The Global National News about the potential for airborne transmission of COVID-19. Read more .
June 3, 2020
Modelling the health benefits of electric cars
Professor Marianne Hatzopoulou and her team have modelled the potential human health impacts of a large-scale shift to electric vehicles across the GTHA. Read more
May 25, 2020
Why some Toronto businesses are betting improved ventilation will cut the risk of COVID-19
University of Toronto engineering professor Jeffrey Siegel says improving ventilation and air filtration could be a good way to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Read more
May 21, 2020
COVID-19 economic slowdown has cut air pollution in Canadian cities
Miriam Diamond, a professor of earth sciences at the University of Toronto, said even a temporary drop in air pollution can have a positive impact on human health. Read more
April 23, 2020
Make our communities healthier with better air quality during and post-pandemic: CANUE
The abrupt change in our lives brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is and will continue to affect us all deeply. There are obvious changes of limited movement and social interaction with many more hours indoors. While we adopt public health measures such as physical distancing, we are all also likely missing our physical communities within cities, suburbs or small towns. As the COVID-19 situation evolves we too need to adapt to the “new normal”. This can be a reflective moment to consider our communities and how they are designed. Read more
April 22, 2020
The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
Prof. Greg Evans speaks to CityNews on Earth Day about ways we can create wins for the economy, environment and climate--like investing in electric vehicles and working remotely from home. Read more
April 9, 2020
Can lowering emissions improve the odds against COVID-19? A U of T Engineering expert examines the evidence
With countries shutting down large sections of the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, many regions have seen strong improvements in air quality in a very short time. As cities decongest, U of T Engineering Professor Greg Evans (ChemE) is using this unprecedented global experiment to study the effects of air quality on the spread of COVID-19. Read more
April 9, 2020
COVID-19 restrictions cut downtown Toronto pollution levels by almost half, researchers find
Researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered a substantial reduction in pollution levels in the downtown core since the province announced measures to curb the the spread of COVID-19, including shuttering schools and non-essential businesses. Read more
April 1, 2020
Greg Evans' interview with CBC News about exposure to air pollution and COVID-19
Prof. Greg Evans talks to CBC News about recent satellite images showing a reduction in air pollution levels in the GTA. He also provides insight on the relationship between exposure to air pollution and respiratory illnesses like COVID-19. Read more
March 20, 2020
Air filtration and COVID-19: Indoor air quality expert explains how to keep you and your building safe
Professor Jeffrey Siegel says filtration systems can be a part of an overall risk mitigation approach but is not generally regarded as a solution by itself. Read more
February 26, 2020
Highway TRAP: Whose job is it to tackle highway air pollution?
This two-part series explores why Weston and North York have some of the highest rates of air pollution in the city. In Part 2, we look at the biggest emitters of highway air pollution and options for curbing them. Read more
February 13, 2020
Pollution affects some more than others, says Marshall
“Just” Cities: Traffic-related air pollution and justice in the context of urban sustainability,” a Distinguished Lecture by Professor Dr. Julian Marshall of the University of Washington, drew a large audience to U of T’s George Ignatieff Theatre on February 5. An online audience of 250 attended via Twitter livestream @civmin. Read more
