Researchers Study Toronto Ambient Air Quality in CivicLabTO Collaboration

This fall, Ryerson University is participating in CivicLabTO (external link) , a collaboration between the City of Toronto and eight other higher-education institutions in the GTA designed to share perspectives and harness collective problem solving to bring about ideas for a more equitable, resilient post-pandemic urban future. 

CivicLabTO includes a common curriculum course, a discussion series, and several research projects initiated by the City of Toronto (external link) , which are being pursued by academic collaborators at multiple universities. Dr. Fatih Sekercioglu and Dr. Emre Karatas of Ryerson University are co-leads on “Toronto Ambient Air Quality Impacts from COVID-19,” a study of how COVID-19 induced behaviour changes (ex. movement restrictions) affected ambient air quality in Toronto, working with Christian Hui, a CIHR Vanier Scholar and current doctoral student. Results from the study will help inform the City of Toronto’s climate action plan, the #TransformTO Net Zero Strategy. In this interview, they tell us about the aims of the study and what it’s like working with the City of Toronto’s Environment and Energy Division.

Tell me about your work/research, and what you’re currently working on, in general.

Dr. Fatih Sekercioglu (FS): I am an Assistant Professor at the School of Occupational and Public Health, and director of the Planetary Health Research Lab. My research program focuses on the interconnectedness of humans and the natural and built environments using a holistic approach. Here’s a story that highlights my recent work. 

Dr. Emre Karatas (EK): As an Assistant Professor in Aerospace Engineering, I have a diverse set of interests, mostly working towards the goal of sustainability. My research group aims to reduce internal combustion engine emissions by studying soot formation in flames. We also collaborate with the NRC on a high-profile study to assess the feasibility of hybrid electric propulsion technology. Recently, related to the pandemic, we collaborated with St. Michael's Hospital and Ryerson’s School of Fashion to understand the efficacy of fashion masks to contain cough droplets. 

Christian Hui (CH): I am in my second year in the PhD in Policy Studies program, Social Policy stream. My primary research focuses on exploring the effects of unearned, structural health privilege on the health outcomes of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. I am affiliated with the air quality study as a Mitacs doctoral intern and research assistant. 

Regarding this research project with the City of Toronto, how did you get involved, and what is your contribution?

FS: Dr. Karatas and I had been exploring ways to collaborate on air quality and health-themed projects, and this project felt like a perfect match, as Emre and I could effectively use our qualitative and quantitative research skills. I’m also working with Toronto Public Health on another project, in which we’re investigating the association between socio-demographic characteristics and COVID-19 infection and severity.

EK: I mostly help with the quantitative aspects such as data reduction and analysis. My expertise in flame emissions also helps our team make connections between our survey and the air quality measurements performed by the University of Toronto team contributing to the project.

CH: As the research assistant, I coordinate research meetings, design recruitment collateral and perform outreach, and other tasks. I led the development and testing of the study’s survey tool, and supported the team with the submission of the research proposal to their research ethics board. I am currently conducting data analysis with Madeline McQueen, an amazing graduate student volunteer. 

What are we going to learn from the research being conducted?

CH: This study examines if and how the pandemic lockdown in 2020 may have led changes in greenhouse gas emissions due to shifts in behaviours such as work, travel, consumption behaviours and use of active transportation amongst the City’s residents. 

FS: We just finished data collection and started the data analysis process. Preliminary findings from our survey show the pandemic and the lockdown measures during March to December 2020 have led to a reduction in travel frequency and duration in the city amongst the study’s respondents (n= 2,367). [When the study is complete,] our data will assist us in understanding the relationships that exist between air pollution, carbon emissions and human behaviour, and activity. These results can be used not only by the City of Toronto but also by other urban municipalities.

What unique skills or perspectives can academic researchers bring to realize the City of Toronto’s objectives in this project?

EK: These types of collaborations are a benefit to all parties. The City typically has a short-term horizon and needs immediate results that can be implemented into policy. However, most research topics are multifaceted and complex, including air quality or climate change. By collaborating with academia, the City benefits from our years of accumulated knowledge base, our established infrastructure, as well as our proximity to talent. Research is done via Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) in our research groups. These HQP will become a part of the skilled workforce and can become the City's next generation of leaders. For me, working with the City is a way to give back to the community. Additionally, these projects are often highly visible, which can be leveraged to support our long term research goals. 

For our students, the benefits are several: they learn about the inner workings of the City, which can be their future employer; they learn how to operate when there are several stakeholders; and these projects are often a part of a larger program so they get perspective on how research can be applied. 

This interview has been edited and condensed for length.