Long-term monitoring of atmospheric air quality in

Piraeus with emphasis on Public Health –

Local and Central Governmental responsibilities for
inadequate implementation of European Directives &
National Legislation

Demetra Vini and Basil Tselentis

Piraeus Observatory

peiraikisparatiritirio@gmail.com
Measuring station on the National grid

ONLY ΠΕΙ-1
DIRECTIVE 2008/50 EC Piraeus Prefecture :
541.000 inhabitants
929 km2
Measuring Station of PPA
 EU Ports’ Climate Performance –
EU ports’ climate impact
Analysis of maritime supply chain and at berth emissions
February 2022
Key messages
•In 2020, air pollution led to a significant number of premature deaths in the 27 EU Member
States (EU-27). Exposure to concentrations of fine particulate matter above the 2021 World
Health Organization guideline level resulted in 238,000 premature deaths; exposure to nitrogen
dioxide above the respective guideline level led to 49,000 premature deaths. Acute exposure to
ozone caused 24,000 premature deaths.
•The zero pollution action plan aims to reduce the number of premature deaths due to exposure
to fine particulate matter by 55% by 2030, compared to 2005. In 2020, the number of premature
deaths attributable to exposure to fine particulate matter above the WHO guideline level fell by
45% in the EU-27, compared to 2005. If this rate of decline is maintained, the EU will reach the
aforementioned zero pollution action plan target before 2030.
•Further efforts will be needed to meet the zero pollution vision for 2050 of reducing air pollution
to levels no longer considered harmful to health.
•Besides premature death, air pollution also causes morbidity. People live with diseases related
to exposure to air pollution; this is a burden in terms of personal suffering as well as significant
costs on the health care sector. In 2019, exposure to PM2.5 led to 175,702 years lived with
disability (YLDs) due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 30 European countries. At the
same time, exposure to NO2 led to 175,070 YLDs due to diabetes mellitus (also known as Type 2
diabetes) in 31 European countries. That same year, 12,253 people across 23 European countries
were admitted to the hospital with lower respiratory infections resulting from acute exposure to
The situation in Greece
• Air pollution is responsible for the death of 11,620 of our fellow
citizens in 2020, due to increased concentrations of suspended
particles with a diameter below 2.5 μm (fine particulate matter – PM
2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3).
• Greece is the 5th country in the EU-27 (along with Italy) in premature
deaths due to suspended particles PM2.5 (0.82 deaths/1000
inhabitants)
• Greece ranks 3rd in premature deaths due to NO2 (1.77 deaths per
10,000 inhabitants)
• Greece is ranked 1st (together with Italy) among 27 European
countries, in premature deaths due to O3 (0.86 deaths/10,000
inhabitants).
Based on measurements performed by Axel, Mrs. Vini presents the results at an Mediterranean Conference in 2019.
Πειραιάς πρωταθλητής…της ατμοσφαιρικής
ρύπανσης σε περιστασιακές μετρήσεις.
2015.Από το NABU στον
τερματικό σταθμό
κρουαζιέρας

2010 Από το ΕΜΠ

Wind direction, force and frequency
Source National Observatory of Athens (NOA)

Prevailing winds :

North (winter + summer)

South (summer)

Westerly winds prevailing

about 20% of the year !

WINTER SUMMER
Measurements from the Port monitoring station

The Master Plan of 2018 uses data till 2014…

 Example of the Reasoning and Discussion leading to the
management of issues related to atmospheric pollution
• No data in the Master Plan
on PM10 !!
• From our interpretation of
the data (raw data were not
given !) the following values
for NO2 were obtained for
the other sampling station
•
Average annual concentration of PM10 from the background
measuring station for the period 2001 - 2007
Our analysis of data from PPA Reports [Environmental prerequisites (EIA)] to the Ministry of Environment

Parameter ΝΟ2 ΡΜ10 Limits values

YEAR
Exceeding (days/year)   34 50μg/m3 & 35 days/year)

2016
Annual average 45μg/m3 35μg/m3 40μg/m3

Exceeding (days/year)   43 50μg/m3 & 35 days/year)

2017
Annual average 49μg/m3 35μg/m3 40μg/m3

Exceeding (days/year)   48 50μg/m3 & 35 days/year)

2018
Annual average 48μg/m3 36μg/m3 40μg/m3

Exceeding (days/year)   40 50μg/m3 & 35 days/year)

2019
Annual average 51μg/m3 32μg/m3 40μg/m3
 Conclusions for PM10
• PM10s do not decrease significantly from 2014 - 2019 as there is an increased number of daily exceedances in all years.
• Also, although the annual average of PM10 in the years 2016 – 2019 is less than the limit, it is nevertheless high, with the
result that the PPA is exposed if there is a reduction of the limit of 40µg/m3.
• Studies argue that this limit should be lowered in the coming years, based on recent research evidence showing an
increased association of particulate matter with human mortality and morbidity. Already in Annex XI (KYA ΕΠ 14122(549)
Ε103, ΕΕΚ 488Β'/30.3.11) it is provided that the date on which the limit value of the average of the calendar year
(40μg/m3) must have been reached has long passed (2005).
• According to Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Union, from 1/1/2010 the average daily concentration of PM10 must
not exceed the limit (40μg/m3) for more than 35 days within a calendar year. In all years (2016 – 2019) the excesses
exceed this limit !!!
• As an explanation of the exceedances, the inaccurate and unscientific view has been used throughout the years that the
causes of the exceedances are mainly a) in the winter season and b) due to the smog problem arising from house
heating and in the spring with the transport of dust from other areas.
• WHY is there no plan to examine the exact cause of this high level ?
• WHY are there no meteorological data that could help highlight the sourse from the direction of movement of these
particles ?
• These explanations are totally unscientific and do not lead to management options for reducing the pollutants on the
part of PPA
• The interesting point is that for so many years the Ministry Environment has not expressed an opinion and suggest
further work on the issue.
 Conclusions for NO2 (PPA monitoring station)
• The annual average in the years 2016-2017 shows that in all years the
limit of 40μg/m3 is exceeded.
• This fact in itself constitutes a serious air burden affecting the urban
fabric. In addition, the fact that every year the concentrations are above
the limit of 40μg/m3 and no PPA interventions are mentioned to reduce
this impact highlights the lack of a policy to reduce the atmospheric
impacts from the port's activities.
• It is worth wondering what the PPA will do if there is a reduction of the
limit of 40µg/m3, which is considered almost certain. For NO2, in
Appendix XI (KYA ΙΠ 14122(549) Ε103, ΕΕΚ 488Β'/30.3.11) it is stated that
the date on which the limit value of the average of the calendar year
(40μg/m3) must have been reached has long gone (2010).
• Another project that we studied was a study by the Greek National Observatory financed by the
Regional Government of Attica., which ended in 2020.
• Limited parts were publically available and again access was extremely difficult.
• What we studied involved PM2,5 studies
• Even the Observatory was reluctant to provide parts of the study.

• The main proposals (on the subject of urban air quality and not port emissions) were as follows :

1. It is necessary in the future to increase the spatial coverage of the monitoring network in the
Piraeus area and to install a fixed station, of the urban-background type, in order to achieve
an increased representation of the exposure of the wider population.
2. Proposed installation of a new urban background station in a residential area and at a
sufficient distance from the water front, so that it is not directly affected by emissions. This
will enable a more representative recording of the levels of pollutants – including secondary
ozone – to which the residents of the wider area are exposed.
Cont’d
3. It is necessary to continue the monitoring over time, in order to establish whether the low levels
observed in the year of measurement (2019) are due to particular climatic conditions or are indeed
attributed to some chronic downward trend.
4. Systematic characterization of suspended particles associated with emissions from biomass burning, by
measuring the concentrations of specific tracer particle parameters, is necessary.
5. It is appropriate to compare the results with real traffic load data on the main roads of the wider area,
with the aim of more fully characterizing the traffic effect and parameterizing e.g. by vehicle type etc.
6. The effect of emissions related to port activity on observed air pollution levels is clear. It is proposed to
examine the findings of the present and future research in comparison with shipping traffic data, for a
targeted assessment of the shipping impact by activity category.
7. It is proposed to install specialized equipment at the station of P.Att. for monitoring the physicochemical
properties of aerosols, at a high temporal resolution, with the aim of detecting incidents related to
shipping emissions.
8. It is proposed to install a network of continuous monitoring of PM 2.5 concentrations, using low-cost
meters, in numerous locations within Piraeus, with the aim of spatially expanding the findings from
measurements at the central station, better characterizing the atmospheric exposure of the wider
population and providing spatially focused information where required.
PPA Research projects
 Cold Ironing…

A lot of talk but no budgets and no maps of where this infrastructure will be placed, even though the new cruise port
is being constructed !!
CONCLUSIONS
• As proven there are serious gaps in the data available.
• The PPA data have no associated meteorological data for studying the
correlation and interdependencies between pollutants and port/city activities
• As stated the data is not available and we have found it impossible to get hold
of the raw data
• The PPA uses data from its own atmospheric monitoring station in the Master
Plan, but uses modelling based on ONLY 4 days (19th January, 26th April, 13th
August and 15th September 2018, to fulfil the requirements of the EIA.
• The data provided refer to the exceeding of limits set by the law, but provide
inadequate and unscientific explanations concerning the casualty of these.
• Highlighting the uncertainties in providing a plausible explanation for the
above, is not sufficient to draw up management options and strategies to face
the problem, especially when searching for the pollution source .
CONCLUSIONS cont’d

1. Based in data provided by Dr. Axel Friedrich, a substantial amount of money was
acquired by the Municipality, from the “Integrated Spatial Investments” program
in 2019, which was not used
2. No suggestions and proposals by the Athens Observatory originating from the
project financed by the Region of Attica, were adopted or implemented
3. The inadequacies of the relevant department of the Ministry of Environment, to
which PPA reports its EIA environmental terms in compliance to the license to
operate, in highlighting the flaws in the environmental reports submitted by PPA
are serious and provide the basis for further investigation.
4. It is clear to us that we must take the initiative and initiate measurements of
particulate matter and NOx, in order to further highlight the dangers facing the
wider population from the increased and uncontrolled atmospheric pollution
Finally
• As there are studies from 2009 that highlight the need to quantify the contribution
of different air pollution, WHY there is no progress in this matter until now.
• Also, as all the studies (as early as 2010) come to the conclusion and propose to
increase the measuring stations in order to have the data that is absolutely
necessary to decide on strategies and measures to reduce air pollution in Piraeus,
WHY is there still only one measuring station.
• The Piraeus-Piraeus Observatory, based on the data it provided, expresses the
opinion that the competent government services demonstrate indolence and
procrastination in dealing with the degraded quality of the air that the citizens of
Piraeus breathe, although they are aware of this situation. Also, that this
ineffectiveness of the responsible government bodies raises serious issues, as it is
not consistent with the Principle of Prevention, resulting in Public Health being
unprotected and ill served, as provided by the Constitution and the laws of the
state.
Finally cont’d
• The Piraeur Observatory concludes with the important question of :
how Greece will respond and comply to the new reduced limits that
are set and protect the highest valued human asset of good Public
Health,
• This question is high on the agenda of the Citizens of Piraeus. There is
increased concern given that these government agencies have not as
yet, developed policies and measures that will limit the deterioration
of the quality of the atmosphere. They have not even completed the
first stage of their intervention, namely the assessment of the
contribution of the port's activities (separately from the urban ones)
to the general quality of the air that the citizens of Piraeus breathe.
• The Citizens of Piraeus are seriously considering taking legal action
against these government authorities, in order to protect the health
and well-being of the Piraeus residents.
 tion !

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