Final Activity Report Summary - IASIMON (Monitoring of toxic pollutants in rural, urban and industrial atmospheres in the IASI region) The overall objectives of this project are to provide an overall view of the present situation of air quality in Iasi area, to determine the spatial concentration distribution in zones- such as maps- including air quality modelling and to analyse the causes of air pollution problems. The project focused on multiple field studies investigating the atmospheric pollutants of air in rural, urban and industrial atmospheres in the Iasi region. Emissions, atmospheric chemical reactions and subsequent deposition of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ammonia (NH3) are causing acidification of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Acidifying pollutants cause deterioration of structures and monuments. Ground-level ozone is a strong photochemical oxidant which, in ambient air, can affect human health, and damage crops, vegetation and materials. Ozone is not emitted directly, but is formed in the lower atmosphere by reaction of volatile organic compounds and NOx in the presence of sunlight. The project was focused on multiple field studies investigating the atmospheric pollutants of air in rural, urban and industrial atmospheres in the Iasi region. Air pollutants and meteorological parameters were measured in situ stations at different sites in Iasi and its vicinity. At positions within streets canyon and on the roof of nearby building, air samples was collected simultaneous. The proposed research was improved the hosting institution capability as part of component of global observing systems for carbon sequestration related to the Kyoto Protocol. In the region exists an urgent need to develop methodologies that allow an understanding and a quantification of atmospheric pollutants with a transferable technology. In this study, contrasting atmospheric chemistry between rural, industrial and urban locations near the Iasi region was conducted. Measurements of SO2 (g), NOx (g), NOy (g), O3, CO2 , SF6 was also made to fully characterise the chemistry of the air mass. The samplers were strategically placed near pollutants source. The placement included samplers upwind, downwind and near the source. The spatial scale of the source and the meteorological conditions determined the spatial scale of the sampler arrangement. Pilot studies were done to determine knowledge regarding the temporal and spatial variability of atmospheric pollutants concentrations. Equipment to measure SO2, NOx, O3, CO2 was used to determine the overall atmospheric chemistry. These measurements also helped to identify air mass sources. Analyses of atmospheric samples from the field studies were conducted during and immediately after de field studies. The high frequency measurements from these studies will provide knowledge regarding the temporal and spatial variability of atmospheric pollutants concentrations. The urban, rural and industrial location will allow comparing. The measurements under the contrasting chemistry of each of the locations will also provide data set for validating the modelled chemistry.
