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Dr Ashish Kumar

Research Associate

Research interests

Poor air quality is a major concern in many parts of the world and has detrimental impacts on economy and public health sectors. Indoor environments are also affected with poor air quality across the globe.  

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are reactive organic molecules present in air that play a crucial role in influencing the air quality via chemistry and subsequent formation of secondary pollutants.

My research interest is in the characterization and measurement of these VOC species in outdoor and indoor environments. I have extensive working experience in the measurement of gaseous and particulate pollutants in the ambient air and from grab samples collected from various emission sources like biomass burning, biogenic, traffic, personal care product use, cleaning and cooking.

I have participated in field campaigns and laboratory experiments, especially in heavily polluted regions of Indo-Gangetic Plain, to identify the emission sources and quantify their impacts on local air pollution. I am also particularly interested in development of emission inventories from different indoor and outdoor sources. My current research focuses on the quantification of emission rates from various indoor sources through controlled laboratory experiments.

In my research, I use a wide range of chromatography and mass spectroscopy to measure the VOCs in real time. This includes working with instruments like Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS) and selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS).

I also employ the offline techniques to capture the whole air samples in canisters and then analyse them with gas chromatography-mass spectrometer/flame ionization detection/electron capture detection (TD-GC-MS/FID/ECD). Using these, we can then quantify the emission factors or emission rates of VOCs which are an important input parameter in several chemical and air quality forecast models. More information about my work can be found on my website.

Selected publications

• Gridded 1 km × 1 km emission inventory for paddy stubble burning emissions over north-west India constrained by measured emission factors of 77 VOCs and district-wise crop yield data. Kumar, A.; Hakkim, H.; Sinha, B. & Sinha, V., Science of the Total Environment, 789, 148064, 2021. 
• Probing wintertime air pollution sources in the Indo-Gangetic Plain through 52 hydrocarbons measured rarely at Delhi & Mohali. Kumar, A.; Hakkim, H.; Ghude, S. D. & Sinha, V., Science of the Total Environment. 801, 149711. 
• Non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) fingerprints of major urban and agricultural emission sources for use in source apportionment studies. Kumar, A.; Sinha, V.; Shabin, M.; Hakkim, H.; Bonsang, B. & Gros, V. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 20, 12133-12152, 2020. 
• RTEII: A new high-resolution (0.1° × 0.1°) road transport emission inventory for India of 74 speciated NMVOCs, CO, NOx, NH3, CH4, CO2, PM2.5 reveals massive overestimation of NOx and CO and missing nitromethane emissions by existing inventories. Hakkim, H.; Kumar, A.; Annadate, S.; Sinha, B. & Sinha, V., Atmospheric Environment: X., 11, 100118, 2021. 
• Air pollution scenario analyses of fleet replacement strategies to accomplish reductions in criteria air pollutants and 74 VOCs over India. Hakkim, H.; Kumar, A.; Sinha, B. & Sinha, V., Atmospheric Environment: X., 13, 100150.