Atmospheric pollution by airborne particle dynamics in the Brussels urban environment

Wind erosion, airborne particle production, their transport, deposition and accumulation on different natural and anthropic surfaces have always given rise to inconvenience for many people. During the last decades this phenomenon has become a very important international problem. A major effect of the atmospheric particles corresponds to the broad term of air pollution Air pollution is essentially caused by the presence of what is called « fugitive dust emissions ». The latter term denotes dust that is injected into the atmosphere by the combined effects of man's activity and the action of the wind, especially over farms, unpaved roads and other ground surfaces, industrial activity and re-suspension of particles by traffic flow. Wind-blown dust is also an efficient way to spread pathogens that are harmful to people, animals and plants. Particles less than 2 μm in diameter are retained in the human lungs. Some of these particles are pathogenic and may have a considerable negative impact on health. The field measurements (PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations), the laboratory analysis (particle size distribution, micromorphology, mineralogy, and chemistry) and the study of the data and the correlations with the atmospheric dynamics (especially its advective component), lead to the following general conclusion: the majority of the airborne particle concentrations measured in Brussels belongs to sources located out of the urban area. A smaller percentage of the particles originate from local sources. They are caused by different human activities: road traffic, domestic heating, building industry, general industrial activities, etc. Under dry weather conditions, wind and local activities may lead to the re-suspension of the coarser particles (between PM2.5 and PM10) formerly deposited on different urban surfaces. The formation of secondary aerosols (e.g. ammonium salts), under conditions with mild temperature and a relative high humidity range, seems to be an important contributor to the PM2.5 concentration. Recent EC directives on the allowed concentrations of PM10, PM2.5 and, especially, smaller particles in urban and rural areas imposes further investigations in order to determine with enough accuracy their origin, shape and chemical composition. As the recent outbreak of Saharan dust storm over the Brussels region has shown, the constant field monitoring, laboratory analysis and data study of extreme events involving airborne particles are an important part of our research program. © 2010 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.Egyptian National Environmental Division Chapter 14SCOPUS: ch.binfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Granulometry and micromorphology of airborne particles in the Brussels urban environment

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Airborne particulates and traffic related pollutions during car-free sundays in the Brussels urban area

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Temporal variations of airborne particles concentration in the Brussels environment.

We report and analyze data on the PM10 fraction of airborne particles measured at five recording stations in the Brussels region from October 2002 till September 2003. These stations are representative of the various activity sectors of the Brussels urban area. The objective was the determination of the origin of the PM10 particles (particles up to 10 mum) that are recorded in that region in order to follow the EU directives concerning tolerance level of airborne particles concentration. In order to evaluate the impacts of local and external factors that inject solid particles in the atmosphere of Brussels we compared concentration data from working and not working (holidays) periods. Moreover, we also compared concentrations from periods of agricultural activity and rest in the Brabant provinces surrounding the Brussels region for various crop types. The results lead to the conclusion that the impact or urban traffic is rather limited while that of the agricultural activities is important. Moreover, there appears a clear-cut distinction between different types of crops.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Synthèse de l’état de l’environnement 2007-2008

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Observation of unusual high particulate mass and number concentration during traffic ban hours of the 2009 car free sunday in the Brussels urban area

Every year, since 2002, the Brussels authorities organize a car free day on the third Sunday of September. This very interesting experience has revealed some valuable information concerning traffic-related gaseous pollutants and particulates. On the car free Sunday of 2006 very high PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentrations were measured, along with very low concentrations for nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and dioxide. The car free Sunday of 2009 also showed very interesting results. During the traffic ban hours, particulate mass concentration and particulate number concentration peaked to one of the highest values for the whole year 2009. Black Carbon however was the only measured particulate component whose concentration continued to decrease during the traffic ban period.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Екологічні аспекти формування угрупувань молюсків Азовського моря

Своєрідний гідрологічний режим Азовського моря, невисока солоність, різкі коливання температури, тривалий зимовий період і мілководність ˗ ці чинники обумовлюють специфічний відбір молюсків з чорноморської фауни, яка представляє собою вже відібрану фауну Середземного моря. Деякі середземноморські форми знаходять в Азовському морі сприятливі умови для свого розвитку і формують великі скупчення. Очевидно, що в даний час структура донних біоценозів в Азовському морі зазнає змін. Перспектива подальших досліджень в даному напрямку визначається необхідністю ретельного моніторингу змін в екологічній системі Азовського моря

Evaluation of car free days on air quality in the Brussels urban area

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Elevated PM10 concentrations and high PM2.5/PM10 ratio in the Brussels Urban Area during the 2006 car-free Sunday

The results of the Car-Free Sundays in Brussels demonstrate the close relationship between the traffic and the presence of the gaseous pollutants such as NO, NO2, CO, CO2 and O3 in a traffic environment. The relationship with PM10 and PM2.5 seems to be much more complex. In fact, the PM10 andPM2.5 concentrations on the Car-Free Sunday 2006 were amongst the highest that year and they were three times higher than on an average Sunday or working day. Analysis of the data indicate that direct particle emissions from traffic only have a limited contribution to the overall PM concentration. © 2010 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Atmospheric Pollution by Iceland Volcano Lava Dispersion - the Brussels Case

Cambridge Universityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe