Environmental and Atmospheric Chemistry

In the Kahan Lab, a major goal is to investigate chemical reactivity in the environment, particularly in complex and poorly understood media. We focus mainly on complex, condensed phases in the environment and indoor and outdoor atmospheres. Outdoors, many environmental matrices are poorly understood due to their varying complexity in composition and physical and chemical properties, which further obscure their potential for chemical reactivity and processing of environmental pollutants. Indoors, there are many drivers that affect air quality and contribute to atmospheric processes and chemistry. We investigate the effects of environmental matrix compositions and drivers on chemistry both outdoors and indoors to inform reactivity processes and potential effects on human health. For a deeper understanding of the work we do, go to our research page.

Pedro has been featured in the Young Innovators Series where he talks about his research on the impact of cleaning on indoor air chemistry and quality.

• Check it out

Saskatchewan chemist trying to unlock the mysteries of snow and ice | CBC News

Chemist researching impacts of poor indoor air quality | CBC News

U of S research shows hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners pollute indoor air | CBC News

Examining environmental pollutants in ice and snow - News | University of Saskatchewan

After seeing how gas stoves pollute homes, these researchers are ditching theirs | CBC News

Check out this latest article where Dr. Kahan talks about balancing a career and motherhood and challenging gender biases in academic spaces. Her recent chapter also expands on this. Check it out! 

The Kahan Lab is collaborating with a Dr. Juliana Faquim of the College of Dentistry to determine the concentrations of fluorine in the Saskatchewan river! You can read more about that research here! 

Congrats to Pedro for winning the Herzberg Fellowship and to Sangeeta for winning the Wilma E. Elias Scholarship!!! 

Check out our latest publication, “Particulate Matter and Total Volatile Organic Compound Emissions Following Surface Cleaning: Comparison of Cleaning Agents and Locations,” published as part of ACS Earth and Space Chemistry special issue “Hartmut Herrmann Festschrift”.