The PREV'AIR system, an operational system for large scale air quality forecasts over Europe : applications at the local scale

International audienceSince Summer 2003, the PREV'AIR system has been delivering through the Internet daily air quality forecasts over Europe. This is the visible part of a wider collaborative project - the PREV'AIR project - launched by the French Ministry for Ecology and Sustainable Development (MEDD), aiming at: (1) Providing technical support on atmospheric pollution management in Europe, in the framework of negotiations on trans-boundary air pollution. (2) Providing large scale national air quality information based on numerical simulations and observations. The PREV'AIR system is a complementary monitoring tool with respect to the local information delivered by the French qualified associations in charge of regional air quality monitoring (AASQA). PREV'AIR relies on a chain of numerical tools: air quality simulation models, modules ensuring the provision of meteorological and air quality input data to these models, modules enabling the extraction and use of the numerical data computed by the system. The outputs of the PREV'AIR system (secondary pollutants forecasts and maps) are archived to build up a large scale air quality simulation data base over Europe

Www.airqualitynow.eu, a common website and air quality indices to compare cities across europe

International audienceAir quality is a public concern. This is partly due to the "right to know" principle embodied in European legislation. Despite this common legislation, the way air quality is being interpreted and communicated differs considerably. For specialists raw monitoring data for Europe are available but these are not usable by the general public. Easy to understand and internationally comparable air quality information from one city to another is scarce: there are almost as many air quality indices as air quality monitoring networks. The CITEAIR II project (Common information to European Air, INTERREG IVc) facilitates the comparison of urban air quality in near real-time by introducing common air quality indices at hourly, daily and annual scales and by developing a forecast for those indices for D+0 and D+1.The implementation was based on a common website www.airqualitynow.eu using readily available simple IT-solutions. This paper describes those tools which both aimed at presenting the air quality of the participating cities in a comparable way and not to replace more targeted local information. Their added value is to provide, for the first time, a European and comparable picture of the air quality in near real-time easily accessible through a common platform and presentation of the results. The website is designed to receive and display data from any city wanting to join. The main part is dedicated to compare the cities index values using different time scales (hourly, daily or annual) and two types of exposure thanks to a background and a traffic index. In addition, space is offered to cities for presenting themselves according to a common template, providing background information on their specific air pollution situation and associated reduction measures. Participating is easy: cities upload their data through ftp and the indices calculations are automatically made. The website provides a dynamic picture of the air quality and is updated each hour enticing viewers to make repeated visits. However, participation with only a daily update or with yearly data is feasible as wel

The PREV’AIR system, an operational system for large scale air quality forecasts over Europe; applications at the local scale

International audienceNumerical simulations of pollution events with deterministic models have become easier for the last decade thanks to increasing computer skills. Hence three-dimensional chemistry-transport-runs can be performed on a single workstation for long-term simulation or real-time forecast over large scale areas. Furthermore, fast Internet download and high file storage capacity in data processing make it possible to use a wide database of meteorological parameters and pollutant concentration measurements. The PREV'AIR System rests on those technological progresses for delivering daily air qualiry forecasts in operational conditions

PREV'AIR : un système opérationnel de prévision et de cartographie de la qualité de l'air en France et en Europe

National audienceLe système PREV'AIR de prévision et de surveillance de la qualité de l'air en France et en Europe est mis en oeuvre à l'Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS) depuis le printemps 2003, en coopération avec l'Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (IPSL) du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS); Météo France et l'Agence De l'Environnement et de Maîtrise de l'Energie (ADEME). Le système a pour objectif de délivrer quotidiennement une information (sous la forme de prévisions et de cartographies) relative à la qualité de l'air en France et en Europe. Il est reconnu comme un complément du dispositif national de surveillance de la qualité de l'air assurée au niveau local par une quarantaine d'Associations Agréées de Surveillance de la Qualité de l'Air (AASQAs). Ce dispositif repose sur plus de 2000 analyseurs dédiés à la mesure d'indicateurs de pollution (SO2, O3, NO2, particules...), répartis sur plus de 700 sites fixes. Les modèles déterministes tridimensionnels de simulation de la qualité de l'air, ou modèles de Chimie-Transport (CTM), généralement couplés à un modèle météorologique, permettent désormais de répondre en grande partie aux objectifs de la prévision, grâce à leur fiabilité croissante et aux progrès réalisés dans le domaine de l'informatique scientifique. La diminution des temps de calculs, l'augmentation des capacités de stockage et le développement des technologies de l'information (accès rapide par Internet à de nombreuses bases de données) rendent désormais possible la mise en oeuvre quotidienne ("opérationnelle") de ces modèles, et la diffusion de l'information qui en découle. Le système PREV'AIR s'appuie sur un ensemble d'outils numériques (modèles et post traitement des sorties de modèles; modules d'interface pour la gestion des entrées / sorties de données). Les données numériques générées par le système (concentrations en polluants atmosphériques) sont exploitées afin de 1) réaliser des études spécifiques pour le compte du Ministère de l'Ecologie et du Développement Durable - MEDD- (bilan de qualité de l'air, analyses de tendances et prospectives); 2) fournir des prévisions de concentrations de polluants atmosphériques (ozone, dioxyde d'azote et particules) à trois jours d'échéance; 3) élaborer des "analyses" des concentrations de polluants (ozone) - c'est-à-dire des cartographies réalisées a posteriori en intégrant les résultats de modélisation et les observations disponibles. Les prévisions et les analyses sont délivrées quotidiennement via Internet sous forme de données numériques et de cartes (http://www.prevair.org). L'objet du présent article est de décrire brièvement le système PREV'AIR tel qu'il fonctionne depuis l'été 2004 ainsi que les produits de sortie délivrés par le système. Un état des performances du système sera également proposé

The Story of the Dopamine Transporter PET Tracer LBT-999: From Conception to Clinical Use

The membrane dopamine transporter (DAT) is involved in a number of brain disorders and its exploration by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is highly relevant for the early and differential diagnosis, follow-up and treatment assessment of these diseases. A number of carbon-11 and fluor-18 labeled tracers are to date available for this aim, the majority of them being derived from the chemical structure of cocaine. The development of such a tracer, from its conception to its use, is a long process, the expected result being to obtain the best radiopharmaceutical adapted for clinical protocols. In this context, the cocaine derivative (E)-N-(4-fluorobut-2-enyl)2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4′-tolyl)nortropane, or LBT-999, has passed all the required stages of the development that makes it now a highly relevant imaging tool, particularly in the context of Parkinson's disease. This review describes the different steps of the development of LBT-999 which initially came from its non-fluorinated derivative (E)-N-(3-iodoprop-2-enyl)-2-carbomethoxy-3-(4-methylphenyl) nortropane, or PE2I, because of its high promising properties. [18F]LBT-999 has been extensively characterized in rodent and non-human primate models, in which it demonstrated its capability to explore in vivo the DAT localized at the dopaminergic nerve endings as well as at the mesencephalic cell bodies, in physiological conditions. In lesion-induced rat models of Parkinson's disease, [18F]LBT-999 was able to precisely quantify in vivo the dopaminergic neuron loss, and to assess the beneficial effects of therapeutic approaches such as pharmacological treatment and cell transplantation. Finally recent clinical data demonstrated the efficiency of [18F]LBT-999 in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease

Identification des sources et facteurs d'influence de la pollution aux particules ultrafines au niveau d'un site de fond parisien

National audienceThe French community involved in air quality monitoring early got interested in the measurement of submicronic particles. Since 2003 INERIS has carried out monitoring campaigns once or twice a year in an urban site located near Paris, enabling the constitution of a large hourly database. Besides air quality measurements, other variables have been introduced into the database: traffic and heating emissions provided by the local air quality monitoring agency (AIRPARIF) ; meteorological variables issued from monitoring or extracted from the meteorological MM5 model (height of the boundary layer). An exploratory study of the data collected from 2003 to 2007 has been performed. Two physically independent factors prove to play a significant role in the evolution of submicronic particle concentrations: emissions, especially traffic emissions, and atmospheric dispersion conditions.Depuis 2003, dans le cadre du LCSQA (www.lcsqa.fr), l'INERIS réalise un travail spécifique sur les particules submicroniques. En partenariat avec AIRPARIF, une des principales actions a pour objectif de documenter l'exposition en région parisienne [Godard, 2003]. Une campagne intensive de 5 semaines est organisée chaque année en période hivernale, au niveau de la station urbaine de fond d'AIRPARIF à Gennevilliers. Une base de données horaire est ainsi régulièrement élargie et enrichie par des éléments d'information liés aux sources et aux variables de dispersion. C'est le cas de la hauteur de la couche de mélange extraite du modèle météorologique MM5 model, et des inventaires d'émission concernant le trafic et le chauffage urbain (données AIRPARIF). Une analyse exploratoire a été menée sur les données concernant les campagnes de 2003 à 2007. Nous avons examiné la relation entre d'une part la concentration en nombre, et d'autre part les émissions et les paramètres météorologiques : suivi temporel, cycle journalier, coefficient de corrélation. Deux facteurs indépendants sont mis en évidence : d'une part les émissions et tout particulièrement le trafic automobile, d'autre part les conditions de dispersion atmosphérique

Statistical analysis of PM2.5 data in urban and suburban environments in France

As a result of the Clean Air for Europe program and the implementation of the new thematic strategy on air pollution, fine particles PM2.5 are bound to take an increasing part in future European and national regulations. Limit values and long term quality objectives will be set for this pollutant which raises concerns for public health. In that context a better knowledge of the sources and behaviour of PM2.5 appears essential for the design of relevant monitoring strategies and efficient pollution control policies. This study is based on three years of continuous measurement of PM2.5 in French cities and suburban areas. Through a statistical analysis, it aims at characterizing PM2.5 pollution according to the urban environment and to identify the contribution of the city to the observed concentrations. Descriptive statistics (histograms, time series) are computed for a selection of monitoring stations located in different French regions. Wherever possible, pairs of urban/suburban stations are examined to compare concentration levels inside and outside the city. Relationships between PM 2.5 concentrations and other species (PM10, NOx, SO2, CO) collocated measurements are investigated as well as correlation with variables indicative of PM2.5 sources and dispersion processes. This investigation is performed for each season of the year to highlight possible seasonal influences

PREV’AIR : prévision et cartographie de la qualité de l’air en France et en Europe

Le système PREV’AIR de prévision et de surveillance de la qualité de l’air en France et en Europe est mis en oeuvre à l’INERIS depuis le printemps 2003, en coopération avec l’Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Énergie (ADEME), l’Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (IPSL) du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) et Météo France. Il illustre le passage, avec succès, d’une plate-forme expérimentale de prévision de la qualité de l’air ayant permis au CNRS et à Météo France de mettre au point des modèles performants, à un système opérationnel destiné à répondre aux attentes concrètes du public et des autorités. PREV’AIR a pour objectif de répondre aux attentes du ministère de l’Écologie et du Développement durable en délivrant quotidiennement une information relative à la qualité de l’air en France et en Europe. PREV’AIR apparaît donc désormais comme un complément du dispositif national de surveillance de la qualité de l’air assurée au niveau local par une quarantaine d’Associations Agréées de Surveillance de la Qualité de l’Air (AASQA). Le système PREV’AIR s’appuie sur un ensemble d’outils numériques (modèles et post-traitement des sorties de modèles ; modules d’interface pour la gestion des entrées / sorties de données

Study of the submicronic particle pollution at a French urban site

The French community involved in air quality monitoring early got interested in the measurement of submicronic particles. Since 2003, INERIS has carried out monitoring campaigns once or twice a year in an urban site located near Paris, enabling the constitution of a large hourly database. Besides particle number concentrations and size distribution measured by SMPS/APS, other variables have been introduced into the database: mass concentrations of several pollutants; traffic emissions computed by AIRPARIF from real-time traffic counts; measured or modelled meteorological variables. Since 2009, particle number concentration data have also been provided by 3031 measurements. An exploratory study of the data collected from 2003 to 2007, which focused on particles with diameter in the 10 nm to 500 nm range, was performed in 2008-2009 and presented at the EFCA 2009 symposium. The aim was to gain better insight into the number concentration and size of submicronic particles and better understanding of the sources and processes at stake in an urban environment. A synthetic scheme explaining the daily evolution of submicronic particle concentrations as a function of emissions and meteorology was established. More recently, following the EFCA symposium, investigations have been carried out thanks to additional monitoring campaigns and the enlargement of the summer database, previously limited to three weeks of measurements. Particle number concentrations over those three weeks appeared to be significantly higher than those measured in winter and revealed enhanced photochemical activity. Two recent campaigns of 7 to 11 weeks provided values inferior to winter concentrations, which is in better agreement with data from other European studies. The specificity of the summer season is still confirmed, with a photochemical signal in the early afternoon preceding the ozone peak. In addition to those results, a feedback about 3031 monitoring is presented