A new study from the RI-URBANS research team, led by Xiansheng Liu, has been published in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, offering new insights into long-term trends of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their impacts across Europe.

By harmonizing two decades (2002–2023) of observations from 21 urban sites across six countries, the study shows that while overall VOC levels have declined, aromatic compounds remain key drivers of ozone formation and secondary organic aerosols.

Using integrated toxicokinetic modeling, the researchers further demonstrate how these pollutants translate into internal human exposure, highlighting potential health risks even as ambient concentrations decrease.

This work bridges atmospheric chemistry, emission policy, and human exposure, providing valuable evidence to support future air quality management strategies across Europe.

 Read the full article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41612-026-01378-9