CityDust - Dynamics of (nano)particles in the urban environment

Air pollution is one of the greatest challenges of our time, especially in cities where particulate matter is often present in excessive concentrations. The most worrying of these are nanoparticles and microplastics, extremely small particles that are still very poorly understood but can have a significant impact on our health and the environment.

The CityDust project aims to research what is in the air in urban areas, how particles are transported and how they are affected by traffic, industry, tourism and changing weather conditions. Researchers will sample particles in the air, on vegetation, in road dust and in precipitation (rain, snow, rainwater). They will also investigate whether these particles can contribute to the spread of pathogens or allergens. They will use state-of-the-art analytical methods such as electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, which provide extremely precise insights into the size, shape and origin of particles. The results of the project will help to better understand where particles come from, how they move between air, surfaces and water, and how climate change affects their movement. This knowledge will be key to developing effective measures for cleaner air and a healthier environment. The planned test sites in Slovenia are Ljubljana, Jesenice, Bled and Trojane, and in Croatia Zagreb, Split, Kutina and Brijuni.

The project is a joint research initiative of Croatian and Slovenian researchers. On the Slovenian side, the Geological Survey of Slovenia and the National Institute of Biology are involved, while the Croatian side is led by the Ruđer Bošković Institute.

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