Commission PEOPLE project shows personal efforts can improve air quality in European cities
30 June 2003
Belgium
Who?,Philippe Busquin, European Research Commissioner, and Didier Gosuin, Environment Minister for the Brussels-Capital Region.
What?,Presentation of results of Brussels measurement campaign completed by Commissions Population Exposure to Air Pollutants In Europe (PEOPLE) project in collaboration with the Brussels Environment Institute (Institut Bruxellois pour la Gestion de l'Environnement).
When?,30 June 2003, 11.00 hrs
Where?,Commission Press Room, Breydel building, 45 Ave d'Auderghem, B-1040 Brussels
On June 30 in Brussels European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Didier Gosuin, Minister of the Environment of the Brussels-Capital Region, will present the results of the Population Exposure to Air Pollutants in Europe (PEOPLE) project, launched by the Commission in September 2002. Almost 2000 volunteers across Europe wore a pollution detector for 12 hours on a given day, with the aim to measure the level of benzene, a carcinogenic substance. Starting in Brussels and Lisbon, the project also involves Bucharest, Budapest, Dublin, Krakow, Ljubljana, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Mr Busquin and Mr Gosuin will elaborate on the results of the Brussels measurement day, and provide details on tests in progress or planned for other European cities. EU scientists will also be on hand with additional information.
Air pollution, particularly in cities, has a major impact on human health with between 60 and 80% of urban pollution caused by traffic. Carcinogenic benzene, generated by both traffic and smoking, is a major source of such pollution. However personal exposure varies with different transport and environment. Results from the Brussels measurement campaign of the Commissions Population Exposure to Air Pollutants In Europe (PEOPLE) project launched by Commissioner Busquin and Minister Gosuin in September 2002 show how simple choices, such as the type of transport used to and from work, affect personal levels of exposure.
The Commissions Joint Research Centre (JRC) is carrying out this analysis to support European air quality legislation. Benzene monitoring leads to measuring exposure to other traffic pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile hydrocarbons and particulate matter. It is the first carcinogen to be regulated by EU air quality directives, with Directive 2000/69/EC setting a limit value of 5 µg/m3 by 2010. The new knowledge obtained with the PEOPLE project will assist policy makers in devising traffic and transport strategies, and will contribute to limiting citizens exposure by raising their level of awareness.
Around 400 local citizens participated in the pilot stage of the PEOPLE project in Brussels and Lisbon on 22 October 2002. Participants wore sensors for 12 hours to assess personal levels of exposure to benzene. Measurements were also taken over 24 hours at a wide range of indoor locations. Outdoor measurements were made to assess the levels and distribution of benzene throughout the two cities, with data from the traditional monitoring network used to assess the yearly average concentration of air pollutants.
More information about the PEOPLE project may be found at:,http://www.people-pt.net/eindex.html,http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int/,http://www.ibgebim.be/
Registration form:,http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int/download/press/releases/ppl_pressregistration_formpdf.pdf
June 30, 2003 - Timetable,11.00 Press conference with Commissioner Busquin and Minister Gosuin,12.00 Buffet lunch,13.00 to 15.00 Round table with scientists from People project and Brussels Environment Institute,
What?,Presentation of results of Brussels measurement campaign completed by Commissions Population Exposure to Air Pollutants In Europe (PEOPLE) project in collaboration with the Brussels Environment Institute (Institut Bruxellois pour la Gestion de l'Environnement).
When?,30 June 2003, 11.00 hrs
Where?,Commission Press Room, Breydel building, 45 Ave d'Auderghem, B-1040 Brussels
On June 30 in Brussels European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Didier Gosuin, Minister of the Environment of the Brussels-Capital Region, will present the results of the Population Exposure to Air Pollutants in Europe (PEOPLE) project, launched by the Commission in September 2002. Almost 2000 volunteers across Europe wore a pollution detector for 12 hours on a given day, with the aim to measure the level of benzene, a carcinogenic substance. Starting in Brussels and Lisbon, the project also involves Bucharest, Budapest, Dublin, Krakow, Ljubljana, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Mr Busquin and Mr Gosuin will elaborate on the results of the Brussels measurement day, and provide details on tests in progress or planned for other European cities. EU scientists will also be on hand with additional information.
Air pollution, particularly in cities, has a major impact on human health with between 60 and 80% of urban pollution caused by traffic. Carcinogenic benzene, generated by both traffic and smoking, is a major source of such pollution. However personal exposure varies with different transport and environment. Results from the Brussels measurement campaign of the Commissions Population Exposure to Air Pollutants In Europe (PEOPLE) project launched by Commissioner Busquin and Minister Gosuin in September 2002 show how simple choices, such as the type of transport used to and from work, affect personal levels of exposure.
The Commissions Joint Research Centre (JRC) is carrying out this analysis to support European air quality legislation. Benzene monitoring leads to measuring exposure to other traffic pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile hydrocarbons and particulate matter. It is the first carcinogen to be regulated by EU air quality directives, with Directive 2000/69/EC setting a limit value of 5 µg/m3 by 2010. The new knowledge obtained with the PEOPLE project will assist policy makers in devising traffic and transport strategies, and will contribute to limiting citizens exposure by raising their level of awareness.
Around 400 local citizens participated in the pilot stage of the PEOPLE project in Brussels and Lisbon on 22 October 2002. Participants wore sensors for 12 hours to assess personal levels of exposure to benzene. Measurements were also taken over 24 hours at a wide range of indoor locations. Outdoor measurements were made to assess the levels and distribution of benzene throughout the two cities, with data from the traditional monitoring network used to assess the yearly average concentration of air pollutants.
More information about the PEOPLE project may be found at:,http://www.people-pt.net/eindex.html,http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int/,http://www.ibgebim.be/
Registration form:,http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int/download/press/releases/ppl_pressregistration_formpdf.pdf
June 30, 2003 - Timetable,11.00 Press conference with Commissioner Busquin and Minister Gosuin,12.00 Buffet lunch,13.00 to 15.00 Round table with scientists from People project and Brussels Environment Institute,