The risks of acute exposure to black carbon in Southern Europe: Results from the med-particles project

Objectives: While several studies have reported associations of daily exposures to PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 μm) with mortality, few studies have examined the impact of its constituents such as black carbon (BC), which is also a significant contributor to global climate change. Methods: We assessed the association between daily concentrations of BC and total, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in two southern Mediterranean cities. Daily averages of BC were collected for 2 years in Barcelona, Spain and Athens, Greece. We used case-crossover analysis and examined single and cumulative lags up to 3 days. Results: We observed associations between BC and all mortality measures. For a 3-day moving average, cardiovascular mortality increased by 4.5% (95% CI 0.7 to 8.5) and 2.0% (95% CI 0 to 4.0) for an interquartile change in BC in Athens and Barcelona, respectively. Considerably higher effects for respiratory mortality and for those above age 65 were observed. In addition, BC exhibited much greater toxicity per microgram than generic PM2.5. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that BC, derived in western industrialised nations primarily from diesel engines and biomass burning, poses a significant burden to public health, particularly in European cities with high-traffic density.Peer reviewe

Urban traffic noise monitoring program in the city center of Thesaloniki, Greece

This presentation describes systematic urban traffic noise measurements, at the Municipal permanent noise & air pollution monitoring station, at the commercial center of Thessaloniki, in northern Greece, for a period of more than a year (December 2003-December 2004). Mean hourly, daily, weekly and seasonally noise levels (Leq, L1, L10, L50, L90, L95) were calculated, for the above period. The mean daily value of Leq(08:00-20:00) was found equal to 72.1 dB(A), significantly higher than the national limit for transportation (road projects) set at 67 dB(A). A significant correlation of diurnal variation of noise levels and traffic volume was found at the urban city center. Also, the differences between 1989 and 2004 for traffic noise levels, at the main streets of the city with relatively high traffic loads are presented. The measurements show that the city of Thessaloniki has a significant traffic noise problem, due to the recorded 5, 4% annual increase of traffic volume

Air Quality in the Thessaloniki Area. Monitoring Campaign in September 1987

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