Overview of NCSRD activities on aerosol

characterization

Atmospheric aerosol sampling and characterization for

air quality and source apportionment studies.

ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY LAB

KONSTANTINOS ELEFTHERIADIS
INRaSTES NCSR ‘DEMOKRITOS’,
ATHENS, GREECE
 What is an aerosol?
• an assembly of liquid or solid particles
suspended in a gaseous medium
• 0.001 μm - 100 μm in diameter
• Dust: solid particles formed by mechanical
disintegration of a parent material
• Smoke: a visible aerosol resulting from
incomplete combustion
• Fog or mist:liquid particle formed by
condensation or atomisation
 Dust: It is transported on a planetary scale
Smoke: incomplete combustion of fossil fuel or biomass
Haze: condensation of water vapour on atmospheric nuclei

Smoke Dust& haze by S. Friedlander, 2000, 2nd edition

Atmospheric aerosol concentration displays strong temporal
variability

Reasons

• Emission intensity and

atmospheric chemistry
conditions
• Local meteorological
conditions affecting
dispersion
• Different Origin of air-
masses due to large scale
circulation patterns
 Sampling convention for PM measurements
Introduced in order to derive ambient PM concentration relevant to
human health effects
 European Standard EN12341
PM10 sampling convention

100

ISO 7708
 Reference method for PM10

PM10 fraction of SPM

75

 PM10: Instrumental

Mass fraction (%)

sampling specification to
determine thoracic aerosol
50
 Equivalent definition by
ISO through the thoracic
convention (ISO 7708)
 thoracic aerosol: 25

Particles penetrating
beyond the larynx
0
1 10 100

Aerodynamic Particle size (um)

 Aerosol particles are a complex mixture of different
substances undergoing continuous change in the air

Atmospheric processes contribute further to

the variability of their microphysical
properties

TEM NaCl & Οργανικά και θειιακά σε

(NH4)2SO4 AFM and TEM
TEM (NH4)2SO4 7
 Documentation of emissions and source
apportionment of observed PM concentration is
becoming necessary for controlling adverse
effects

8
Long term monitoring of aerosol parameters at the
Demokritos Urban Background station

Member of the
Global Atmosphere Watch Network of W.M.O.

ATHENS

DEMOKRITOS

9
 Historical record of concentration trend for PΜ at large European cities

 Gradual decline towards

limit values

 The current and future

directives demand for
lower target values

 There is a need to
determine the
contribution of natural
sources

10
 Can we relate emissions and emission reductions
to corresponding concentration levels and trends?

Long term emission trends in Athens for the previous decade (Progiou &Ziomas, 2011)
Science of the Total Environment 410-411 (2011) 1–7

11
 Current state of the art knowhow
on source identification and contribution to air pollution

From “European guide on air pollution source apportionment with receptor models” C. Belis et al., 2014

12
 Why is ACEPT – AIR a project with high impact

Project kick off at September 2010, Call round October 2009

At the 3rd FAIRMODE plenary in Kjeller, on 16th September 2010, it was agreed that FAIRMODE
would compile the recent experiences from Member States when applying modelling tools for
reporting purposes under the 2008/50/EC Air Quality Directive.

13
1st Workshop - Nov 2010

12/10/2012
Recomendations
ON THE USE OF MODELS FOR REGULATORY PURPOSE AND TO SUPPORT AIR
QUALITY POLICY

Source apportionment modeling: There is an increasing need to

demonstrate whether and to what extent exceedances of limit values can be
attributed to natural sources, human practices (road salting and sanding), and
transboundary pollution. In the context of the preparation and implementation of
air quality plans and short-term action plans, there is also a need to identify and
quantify the contribution of the main pollution sources in order to efficiently
design abatement measures and assess their effectiveness.

14
 Action 3: PM Source Identification and Quantification

Results – Comparison of PMF - CMB models

35 PM10 dataset from Thessaloniki (2007)

CMB PMF
30

25
Source contribution (%)

20

15

10

0
Traffic Oil Waste+Tyre Biomass Road dust Industrial Marine Sulfates Nitrates
combustion burning burning
(heating)

EC Visit for ACEPT-AIR project, Volos, 21/5/2014 15

 Action 3: PM Source Identification and Quantification

Results – PMF application on Athens PM2.5 data

Agia Paraskevi – Cold

period

Agia Paraskevi – Warm

16
period
 Action 3: PM Source Identification and Quantification

Results – PMF application on Athens PM2.5 data

Nea Smyrni – Cold period

Nea Smyrni – Warm period

EC Visit for ACEPT-AIR project, Volos, 21/5/2014 17
 Mass Concentration apportioned to Sources at a decadal SA interval

PM2.5
ug/m3 41 15

2002 2012 2002 2012

Road dust 8.4 10.3 3.4 1.6 45%
Traffic 22.0 4.1 9.0 0.6 7%
Fossil fuel
combustion 8.3 4.2 3.4 0.6 18%
Biomass
burning 12.8 33.6 5.2 5.1 97%
Sea salt 3.6 5.4 1.5 0.8 55%
Soil 3.7 0.6
Secondary 41.1 38.8 16.8 5.8 35%
Industrial 3.9 1.6

18
Results in Athens showing spatial
variability
Area Time Monitoring
(ώρες) site

North 6,2 Marousi

East 1,9 Ag. Paraskevi

NorthEast 16,2 Ag. Paraskevi

Northwest 1,5 Lykovrisi

West 2,0 Aristotelous

Central 11,4 Aristotelous

South 16,9 Piraeus

N.C.S.R. “Demokritos” 19
Variability in BC
(22/9/11)

20
 HELMOS HELLENIC
ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL AND
CLIMATE CHANGE STATION

ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΩ ΓΙΑ ΤΟ ΕΝΔΙΑΦΕΡΟΝ ΣΑΣ