The research activity of the Laboratory of Environmental Physics is mainly focused on the study of the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere and their effects. In particular, “atmospheric particulate matter”, often known by the unfortunate term “fine dust”, has significant effects that are still largely unknown, both on human health and on climate.

Research on the composition, diffusion, sources, and effects of atmospheric particulate matter is carried out through the development of experimental techniques, ranging from nuclear analyses to optical ones, and through the development of meteorological and diffusion computational models, which make it possible to predict the concentration of atmospheric pollutants from the local to the continental scale.  In recent years, the laboratory’s activity has led to the construction of the first Italian atmospheric simulation chamber: ChAMBRe (Chamber for Aerosol Modelling and Bioaerosol Research), which is included in the European consortia ATMO-ACCESS, ITINERIS, ACTRIS

Many of the experimental techniques find applications in fields such as materials analysis and the conservation of cultural heritage. The research line in environmental physics has also taken shape through the creation of a university spin-off (PM_TEN) operating within the Department.