Thomas A. Cahill Departments of Physics and Atmospheric Sciences, Land, Air and Water Resources Emeritus); Departments of Applied Science and Chemical Engineering/Material Sciences (Recalled) Recipient 1993-1994 Professor Cahill has distinguished himself in public service through his exceptional work with environmental groups and public agencies on air quality problems worldwide. At every level – local, state, national and international – he has been at the leading edge of developing innovative solutions to air quality problems. In 1973-1976, Professor Cahill was instrumental in California’s adoption of the catalytic converter, despite opposition of the US Environmental Protection Agency. His research was critical in removing lead from gasoline and proposed and wrote the law removing sulfur from gasoline for California, only copied by the US Environmental Protection Agency 20 years later. From 1977 through 1984, Professor Cahill was the principal investigator of air quality problems at Owens (Dry) Lake and Mono Lake, and from 1984 – 1992, for the Mono Lake Committee. His research demonstrated the connection between the lowering of lake levels and fine, toxic dusts that blow downwind. He became an unpaid consultant to the Audubon Society and the California Attorney General’s Office in the Mono Lake litigation. His expert testimony in 1991 helped persuade the court to rule to stop all releases from Mono Lake. In 1991, Professor Cahill was again working with the Attorney General’s office at the Owens (Dry) Lake Bed. He developed a plan to mitigate this dust – the highest respirable dust ever measured in the U.S. – through ecologically sound means. He presented this plan to the California State Lands Commission and the California Air Resources Board. This led to a detailed proposal to the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources. The plan was adopted and grew into a major campus effort. In 1992, the first phase was funded by the California State Commission and the California Air Resources Board, at which time began a ten year project to reintroduce sand dunes, ambient water and wildlife into the region, diminishing toxic dust through natural means. Regretfully, this has not been adopted by the Los Angles Department of Water and Power who is relying on an engineering approach. Professor Cahill was the principal investigator of a National Park Service grant to collect and chemically analyze aerosol data for a study determining the effect of a large coal-fired plant in the Grand Canyon National Park. His testimony persuaded the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rule in favor of 90 percent control of emissions at the facility. The facility fought back and challenged the recommended controls. Professor Cahill took the initiative to develop a new analysis on the data on the effect of the facility’s emissions in the Grand Canyon. Based on the new analysis, Professor Cahill’s testimony to the Environmental Protection Agency clearly linked haze in the canyon to the facility’s emissions. The EPA hearing office commended Professor Cahill on his testimony. One month later, in negotiations with the Grand Canyon Trust, the facility agreed to 90 percent control of its emissions. President Bush signed the agreement on the rim of the Grand Canyon in 1991. Internationally, Professor Cahill is known for his leadership in developing a network of air pollution laboratories. He was the designer and aerosol prime contractor for the 72-station U.S. network, IMPROVE, 1981-1997 at more than 75 U.S. National Parks, Monuments and Wilderness Areas. His efforts in loaning equipment, collaborating on analysis and training, have led to recognition by the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization, which met in Davis in 1991. In 1992, the U.N. adopted many aspects of the UC Davis program for its Global Atmospheric Watch as a framework for the entire world. Major collaborations are occurring in Asia as part of the University of California Pacific Rim, National Science Foundation’s ACE-Asia and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs. Professor Cahill’s volunteer work as scientist for the American Lung Association (since 1995) has bestowed him with the American Lung Association’s Clean Air Globe Award in 2001 for his significant contributions to the cause of cleaner air in California. He served with the American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trail’s Health Effect Task Force designing a study titled “Comparison of Cardiac and Stroke Mortality to Carbon Monoxide, Ozone and Particulate Air Pollutant Concentrations in the Sacramento Valley Region.” In response to the needs of the people of New York City during their 2001 World Trade Center collapse, Professor Cahill volunteered his services sending air samplers and performing analysis of the dusts. Professor Cahill, with a large group of UCD scientists, provided the only measurements made on the ultra fine toxic dusts breathe by the workers and residence of lower Manhattan. These results have culminated in a re-evolution and re-evaluation of the causes of health impacts. It has also resulted in numerous national invited talks. Back to Past Recipients