Fine particles and oxidant pollution: Developing an agenda for cooperative research

This paper describes a background for the North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone (NARSTO) cooperative program integrating studies of O-3 and PM2.5. It discusses several important aspects for rationalizing NARSTO's trinational investigative approach, including (1) an outlook on the state of knowledge about fine particles in the troposphere and their origins in Canada, Mexico, and the United States; (2) the need for enhancement and strengthening of key field measurements in relation to tropospheric chemistry and a health effects component; and (3) the use of a central theme for advancing air quality modeling using evolving techniques to integrate and guide key process-oriented field campaigns. The importance of organizing a scientific program to acquire policy-relevant information is stressed, noting cooperative research directions that address combined PM2.5 and O-3 issues, illustrated through exploration of hypothetical pathways of PM2.5 response to choices of O-3 and PM precursor emission reductions. The information needed for PM10, research is noted to intersect in many cases with those of O-3, but diverge in other cases. Accounting for these distinctions is important for developing NARSTO's strategy over the next decade.