Projects / Programmes
Influence of emissions on ambient air pollution by particulate matter
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.08.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Control and care of the environment |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P305 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Environmental chemistry |
| P500 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Geophysics, physical oceanography, meteorology |
emissions, aerosol particles, chemical characterization, elemental analyisis, source apportioonment
Researchers (4)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
03587 |
PhD Irena Grgić |
Chemistry |
Head |
2004 - 2007 |
364 |
| 2. |
20394 |
PhD Boštjan Podkrajšek |
Chemistry |
Researcher |
2004 - 2005 |
74 |
| 3. |
16348 |
PhD Janja Turšič |
Control and care of the environment |
Researcher |
2004 - 2007 |
236 |
| 4. |
21682 |
Nuša Verbič |
Chemistry |
Technical associate |
2004 - 2007 |
10 |
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0104 |
National Institute of Chemistry |
Ljubljana |
5051592000 |
21,357 |
Abstract
Aerosol particles are involved in numerous physico-chemical processes in the atmosphere. Recent epidemiological studies demonstrate remarkable associations between elevated concentrations of particles below 10 micro m (PM10) and respiratory and cardio-vascular diseases. Airborne suspended particulate matter (PM) can be either primary or secondary in nature. Primary particles are emitted directly into the atmosphere by natural or anthropogenic processes, whereas secondary particles are formed in the atmosphere by transformations of different gaseous precursors. Different anthropogenic sources (traffic, power-plants, other industrial processes...) contribute most to pollution with particles in the size range between 0.1 and 10 micro m.
Due to increased evidence that health effects occur at very low levels of PM, EU legislation demands more rigorous standards for particulate matter. Therefore, recent investigations in the field of atmospheric aerosols have been oriented toward size-segregated sampling and chemical characterization of aerosols according to their aerodynamical diameter. Chemical composition of particles is very complex and depends on their size, meteorological conditions and locations. The composition of urban aerosols is particularly complicated, due to the mixing of particles of anthropogenic sources with particles originating from long-range transport.
The proposed investigations will be initially directed toward sampling and chemical characterization of aerosol particles according to their size ranges directly at the source of emission (Šoštanj Thermo power-plant). On the basis of these results we will obtain information regarding the amount of specific target chemical elements depending on the type of fuel and manner of combustion. In the second part, we intend to collect particles in the surroundings of the main emission source, where the influences of other sources also become important. Taking into account meteorological data and appropriate statistical data treatment, we will determine the influence of the Thermo power-plant on air pollution with aerosol particles (source apportionment). On the basis of the amount and size segregated distribution of toxic metals (Pb, Cd, As, Cr, Ni) in aerosols, we will obtain information on the potential risks to human health.
