California Air Resources Board

Each year, the California Air Resources Board Research Program funds approximately $4-8 Million worth of research projects (approximately 10-12 projects). The research planning process begins each year with a public comment and concept collection survey. After reviewing all submissions and creating internal projects, the Research Program releases a list of tentative project ideas that meet various prioritization criteria. Virtual public meetings are being held to collect input on the funding year 2025-2026 tentative projects. The tentative list of projects adds up to a total cost of $10-20 Million. Public input is critical as CARB determines which projects to recommend for funding within our $4-8 million budget. A poll is being provided so that members of the public can select which concepts are high priority and provide additional comments on each concept. To access the poll use this link and complete it by November 27, 2024.

Health Research

Identification and prioritization of emerging air toxic pollutants - $500,000

• This project will identify emerging air toxics of concern in California through literature reviews, expert consultations, and community engagement.
• These compounds will be considered for inclusion in a target list of compounds for developing monitoring protocols and inclusion in future air toxics monitoring efforts.

Assessing the effectiveness of filtration strategies for reducing indoor exposures to odor and toxic air pollutants - $600,000

• This project will measure and compare the effectiveness of different types of filters and air cleaners in removing non-PM 2.5 pollutants, including hydrogen sulfide, other odorous compounds, and toxic pollutants, in real-world environments.
• Results from this study will help CARB and other agencies develop the best strategies to protect individuals in schools and residences impacted by wildfires, air toxics such as VOCs, and odorous pollutant sources.

What are the wildfire smoke exposures and long-term health effects on mothers and infants living in wildfire-affected areas during pregnancy? Insights from the California B-SAFE Study. - $700,000

• Most research on wildfire smoke looks at short-term health effects, but little is known about long-term impacts. This new project will build on the B-SAFE Study to explore how experiencing wildfire smoke during pregnancy affects mothers and their children over time, focusing on adverse health outcomes like respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as neurodevelopmental issues.
• Using advanced methods and comprehensive population data, this project will provide valuable insights into the long-term health risks of wildfire smoke, helping inform CARB's climate programs and policies.

What is the potential long-term health impact of repeated wildfire exposure on intergenerational health? - $700,000

• Repeated exposure to wildfire smoke can have long-term health effects on the general population, especially children, although these effects are not fully understood. This animal study will build on previous CARB research to examine how early exposure to wildfires impacts the immune and respiratory systems as individuals grow older and whether these effects can be passed on to future generations. Additionally, it will investigate whether experiencing multiple wildfire seasons leads to increased health problems later in life.
• This study focuses on an animal population living outside and experiencing wildfire smoke during daily activities.
• The results of this study will provide CARB with an understanding of the impacts of repeated wildfire smoke exposure on public health and inform efforts to protect public health from the harmful effects of air pollution.

Air Quality Research

What are the real-world emissions of NOx from soils? - $800,000

• Though soil NOx emissions play a role in atmospheric chemistry and air quality, there is a lack of consensus on their importance for controlling regional ozone and PM2.5.
• This project will collect nitrogenous emissions from soil and other ag-related sources in the San Joaquin Valley and determine the factors that result in soil NOx emissions in different land use types and environmental conditions.

What are the potential air quality impacts of cooking emissions? - $750,000

• While cooking emissions contribute to increased levels of PM2.5, SIP non-attainment, and ozone formation, our understanding of cooking emission compositions and their impact on air quality and human health is still limited.
• This project will measure key air pollutants emitted by commercial cooking operations near residential neighborhoods, focusing on communities of color and priority communities.

How do we improve measurement tools and methods for real-time detection of toxic air contaminants in communities burdened by air pollution? - $900,000

• California communities have been concerned about toxic air contaminants and their health effects for years. However, developing effective mitigation strategies for toxic air contaminants is challenging due to the lack of real-time air toxics measurement datasets.
• This project aims to improve existing tools and methods for measuring air toxics using emerging technologies. It will utilize the measurement data to provide a better health exposure assessment of air toxics, particularly in communities with environmental justice concerns.

What monitoring and sample analysis improvements do we need to report nitrates in PM2.5 accurately? - $400,000

• Nitrate is a major part of the PM2.5 in California. The filter-based PM2.5 sampling method commonly used in regulatory monitoring networks could be inaccurate due to nitrate's volatilization behavior.
• This project aims to develop a model that predicts the volatilization behavior of PM2.5 nitrate on the filter media, improving the accuracy of PM2.5 nitrate measurements.

 Operationalize PM2.5 Measurement and Source Characterization in Non-Attainment Areas to Support NAAQS Compliance - $900,000

• Earlier this year, the US EPA lowered the annual average PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard, or NAAQS, from 12 μg/m3 to 9 μg/m3. Some areas previously in compliance with the PM2.5 NAAQS are anticipated to exceed the new standard. Given the limited air quality data for these areas, thorough air quality monitoring and modeling are essential to accurately identify the PM2.5 sources.
• This project will expand the network of advanced air analyzers throughout the State to measure PM2.5 composition and characterize PM2.5 sources at the study sites. A data repository will provide equitable access to the collected data for researchers, communities, and state and local air quality management agencies/organizations.

What detailed chemical mechanisms must we understand to better model atmospheric PM formation? - $450,000

• This project aims to better understand gas-particle partitioning between organic and inorganic aerosols to improve model prediction of PM2.5 levels in urban and rural California. By conducting controlled environmental chamber experiments and using air quality models, it will examine the effects of inorganic compounds from NOx on organic aerosols, especially in areas like California's Central Valley in wintertime, where both inorganic salts and organic aerosols impact PM2.5 levels. 
• The new federal ambient air quality standards will require sustained emissions reduction strategies over the coming decades. The chemical mechanism developed will be implemented into airshed models for direct impact assessment on local and regional PM2.5. The results will guide strategies to meet the new federal air quality standards and help mitigate PM2.5 non-attainment in impacted regions.

Investigate the potential for an accessible multi-pesticide detection and sampling method- $400k

• In collaboration with the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), and in response to community requests, CARB is considering a project to develop an accessible multi-pesticide detection and sampling method
• The project will conduct a literature review of existing methods used to sample and detect pesticides found in the air. It will identify potential pathways for developing a more effective air sampling strategy to simultaneously detect multiple pesticides relevant for evaluating community-level pesticide exposure. Additional exploratory field testing may be conducted to demonstrate the efficacy of such potential pathways. The results will be synthesized to create a strategy for developing a Standard Operating Procedure.

Sustainable Communities

How can we mitigate community impacts from nearby warehouse proliferation? - $400,000

• In partnership with OEHHA, this study will leverage existing efforts to catalog warehouse locations and their activities and quantitatively estimate facility-level emissions of air quality and climate-affecting air pollutants throughout the state using technologies such as remote sensing, among other data resources. The study will also evaluate the impact of warehouse proliferation on local air quality using new data. The catalog will be developed for external use to allow community members to engage with the data further. The results will help us understand the benefits that could be gained by targeted decarbonization of emission sources associated with warehouses.

Program Assessment

Validating the accuracy of vehicle purchase surveys - $50,000

• CARB works with contractors to collect survey data, including preferences for future vehicle purchases. This project will combine past survey data with DMV vehicle registration data to better understand the relationship between survey answers and actual vehicle purchasing choices.

Climate

Improving emission inventories on coastal wetlands and various vegetation types - $800,000

• This project will measure carbon dioxide and methane fluxes from Southern California wetlands using soil samples and flux estimation system(s). Given their unique disturbances and species, these wetlands represent critical data gaps for greenhouse gas modeling. The project also involves collecting Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound emissions by plant species to refine regional air quality and climate impact predictions. Results will support future Scoping Plan updates, broaden wetland types in scenario modeling, and inform the State Implementation Plan and Assembly Bill 1757 requirements on natural carbon sequestration targets and nature-based climate solutions.

Mobile Sources

Analyzing brake-wear emissions from conventional and zero-emission vehicles - $900,000

• In this study, the amount and chemical composition of brake wear from both gasoline and zero-emission cars and trucks will be measured. Additionally, the gaseous emissions will be measured. This work will allow CARB to improve our emissions inventories and better quantify the benefits of the reduced emissions from brake wear from electric vehicles due to regenerative braking
• This study aims to determine the amount of brake-wear emissions expected from conventional and electric cars and trucks and identify the chemical compounds in those emissions. CARB will work with contractors to measure brake-wear gaseous and PM emissions in a controlled laboratory test facility.
• Characterizing these emissions will allow us to assess potential brake-wear emission reductions and associated public health benefits as we transition from conventional to zero-emission vehicles.

Do the passenger vehicles driven in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities (DAC) pollute more than vehicles driven in non-DACs? - $250,000

• Roadside tailpipe measurements have shown that vehicles registered in DACs generally emit more pollution than other vehicles. In this study, researchers will use this data and information on where cars drive to better understand the quantities of tailpipe emissions in DACs and non-DACs.
• This project will consider vehicle activity patterns, such as vehicle miles traveled (VMT), to estimate activity-weighted emission rates and total emissions.