Bio: Ralf Zimmermann is full professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Rostock and director of the research unit CMA at the Helmholtz Centre Munich. Furthermore, he is the speaker of the Department Life, Light & Matter of the Interdisciplinary Faculty of the University of Rostock and is heading the Competence Center for Mass Spectrometry in the Department. He studied Chemistry and Physics and holds a PhD degree in Physical/Analytical Chemistry. His primary technological research interest lies in the development of novel (laser and photo-ionization) mass spectrometric methods and technologies for on-line characterization of aerosols, ambient particulate matter, process gases as well as combustion and pyrolysis emissions. This research led to the co-founding of the spin-off company Photonion GmbH in 2009. Prof. Zimmermann also performs method development for the comprehensive characterization of ultra-complex molecular systems, using e.g., high resolution mass spectrometric technologies, thermal analysis as well as multidimensional separation approaches, combined with chemometric approaches. His applicative research is focusing on the holistic, interdisciplinary investigation of the composition, atmospheric processing, toxicology and health impact of ambient aerosols and combustion emissions. In this context he is studying the health and climate impact of biogenic and anthropogenic aerosols, e.g., the emissions from vegetation, wildfires, traffic (road, air, sea) or industrial activities. He published over 400 articles, received multiple prices and an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Eastern Finland

Abstract: Air pollution by fine particulate matter (PM) is known to be the most severe environmental health-risks worldwide (WHO, 2001). The investigation of adverse aerosol´s effect mechanisms including the impact of the organic PM fraction is a challenging, highly complex task. New analytical methods and scientific instruments for an effect-directed characterization of the chemical composition and physical properties of PM (e.g., internal/external mixing state of toxicants within the particle ensemble or source apportionment approaches) as well as biological approaches for the direct investigation the adverse toxicological effects of aerosols are needed. In this context, new approaches for the organic chemical and the toxicological characterization of aerosols are presented, discussed and demonstrated. In particular, rapid aerosol characterization methods based on Photo Ionization Mass Spectrometry (PIMS) are introduced. Photo Ionization (PI) is well suited to address the pattern of the highly health relevant Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH). One approach is to analyze the PAH and other compounds evolving from a PM-loaded filter punch during a thermal-optical carbon analysis (i.e., an EC/OC measurement). For this an EC/OC-TOCA system is hyphenated to a Photoionization Mass Spectrometer. The technology is introduced and application examples are given. For health-directed on-line measurements a novel Single Particle Mass Spectrometer (SPMS) has been developed. This system allows the real-time measurement and mixing-state analysis for inorganic (metals/soot/salts/minerals) and for organic compounds (PAH, oxalate etc.) on single aerosol-particle basis. Application examples of e.g., wildfire aerosol and ship emissions are presented. Finally, an improved methodology to directly assess the toxicological impact of aerosols by air-liquid-interface (ALI) exposure of human lung cell co-cultures is discussed. Here laboratory result on e.g. biomass combustion of ship and car emissions are given augmented by first on-line ALI toxicology results on ambient air (Munich, Germany).