J. Mark Sowers Distinguished Lecture Series

From Water to Air:  How Pollution Impacts Air Quality and Health in Coastal Regions

As the human population continues to increase, pollution from treated and untreated sewage entering waterways is rising. While often thought to remain in water, many pollutants can transfer to the atmosphere through volatilization and aerosolization, affecting air quality, climate, and health. Once airborne, these pollutants can travel long distances, impacting human health, crops, and ecosystems over wide areas.

This talk will highlight key findings from over a decade of research by the NSF Center for Aerosol Impacts on Chemistry of the Environment (CAICE), which developed an “ocean-in-the-lab” approach to study how pollutants are released into the atmosphere. This led to the Scripps Ocean-Atmosphere Research Simulator (SOARS), a facility that simulates waves, winds, temperature, and biological activity to examine sea spray production and gas transfer processes at the air-sea interface.

Building on these lab studies, current research examines how pollution from the Tijuana River and the coastal ocean influences air quality and health. Flowing across the US-Mexico border into the Pacific Ocean near southern San Diego, the Tijuana River serves as a critical case study for understanding how pollutants transfer from water to air, affecting coastal communities and underscoring environmental justice concerns. With a large portion of the global population living near and contributing to polluted waterways, understanding these impacts is vital, as increasing water pollution worldwide poses growing threats to public health and air quality.

Dr. Kimberly Prather is a Distinguished Professor at UC San Diego, holding appointments at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She directs the NSF Center for Aerosol Impacts on Chemistry of the Environment (CAICE) and co-directs the Meta-Institute for Airborne Disease in a Changing Climate.

Dr. Prather's research is centered on understanding how aerosols—tiny particles suspended in the air—impact climate, air quality, and human health. In CAICE, scientists utilize innovative “ocean-in-the-lab” approaches to conduct controlled studies on how oceanic conditions such as waves, winds, and temperature affect the release of aerosols and gases into the atmosphere. Extending this work, her field studies focus on real-world pollution sources, particularly in areas like the US-Mexico border, to investigate how pollutants from waterways affect coastal air quality and human health, with an emphasis on environmental justice.

An elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, Dr. Prather is also a dedicated advocate for science communication. She actively engages with policymakers and the public to drive impactful environmental and health policies. She was recently awarded the 2024 NAS Chemical Sciences Award in recognition of her groundbreaking research and commitment to public outreach.