Descrizione del progetto
Stabilire un intervento di abbattimento degli aerosol atmosferici con effetti negativi sulla salute umana
Ogni inverno, la regione dei Balcani occidentali ha una qualità dell’aria tra le più scadenti in Europa e nel mondo a causa dell’uso esteso di combustibili solidi per il riscaldamento domestico e di un vecchio parco veicoli. Il particolato di aerosol sospeso nell’atmosfera ha effetti dannosi sulla qualità dell’aria, sulla salute umana e sugli ecosistemi. Il progetto SAAERO, finanziato dall’UE, istituirà le prime misurazioni sistematiche estese dell’aerosol fine nella città di Sarajevo per fornire una caratterizzazione fisico-chimica dettagliata dell’aerosol e quantificarne gli effetti. Il progetto mira a un impatto forte e duraturo nella comprensione e risoluzione delle attuali crisi ambientali e sanitarie nella regione dei Balcani occidentali, stabilendo una solida base per l’intervento di abbattimento.
Obiettivo
Aerosolized particulate matter (PM), suspended in the atmosphere, particularly its fine fraction, has well documented detrimental effects on air quality, human health and ecosystems. Every winter, the Western Balkan (WB) region is experiencing some of the poorest European and global air quality, due to the extensive use of solid fuels for domestic heating and an old vehicle fleet. Countries of the WB lack state-of-the-art atmospheric scientific research despite high levels of ambient pollution. It is imperative to understand the sources and mechanisms governing such air pollution. The SAAERO project proposes setting-up the first systematic extended measurements of fine aerosol in the city of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to deliver detailed aerosol physico-chemical characterization and quantify their effects. During six months, measurements will be performed with on-line, high time resolution (total, organic and elemental carbon, and black carbon) instrument and daily, continuous filter samples will be collected for off-line laboratory analyses. Additionally, during an intensive two week field campaign, aerosol chemical composition will be measured with state-of-the-art aerosol mass spectrometer on board a mobile research laboratory. Subsequent off-line analyses of aerosol filter samples will give detailed aerosol chemical composition from bulk to source-specific organic marker species, and the sample oxidative potential, which will be used as a health effects proxy. Finally, sophisticated source apportionment methodology will be used to deduce PM emission sources, atmospheric processing of emissions. A novel methodology linking aerosol fractions and oxidative potential will be developed to assign health effects to specific sources. The proposed SAAERO project aims for a strong and lasting impact in understanding and resolving current major environmental and health crises in the entire WB region, establishing a solid baseline for the abatement intervention.
Campo scientifico
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EFCoordinatore
5000 Nova Gorica
Slovenia