This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
Despite the various reduction policies that have been implemented across Europe in the past few years, Particulate Matter (PM) exceedances continue to be recorded. Therefore, with the principal aim to clarify the complex association between emissions and fine particles levels, this work evaluates the impact of the anthropogenic contribution to the fine PM chemical profile. The fieldwork was conducted during March in 2008 and 2013 and covers the periods before and during the economic recession. The experimental data were analyzed in parallel with the emissions from the Flexible Emission Inventory for Greece and the Greater Athens Area (FEI-GREGAA). The differentiation of the mass closure results’ and the aerosols’ character is also discussed in combination with the calculated PM2.5-Air Quality Indexes. The peak in the PM load and the Particulate Organic Matter (POM) component was recorded in 2013, corresponding to the enhancement of the anthropogenic input. Although the monitoring location is traffic-impacted, the sector of heating, from both wood burning and fossil fuel, proved to be the driving force for the configuration of the obtained PM picture. Especially in 2013, its contribution was two times that of traffic. Finally, the low wind speed values led to the deterioration of the air quality, especially for the sensitive groups.
Styliani Pateraki; Kyriaki-Maria Fameli; Vasiliki Assimakopoulos; Kyriaki Bairachtari; Alexandros Zagkos; Theodora Stavraka; Aikaterini Bougiatioti; Thomas Maggos; Nikolaos Mihalopoulos. Differentiation of the Athens Fine PM Profile during Economic Recession (March of 2008 versus March of 2013): Impact of Changes in Anthropogenic Emissions and the Associated Health Effect. Atmosphere 2020, 11, 1121 .
AMA StyleStyliani Pateraki, Kyriaki-Maria Fameli, Vasiliki Assimakopoulos, Kyriaki Bairachtari, Alexandros Zagkos, Theodora Stavraka, Aikaterini Bougiatioti, Thomas Maggos, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos. Differentiation of the Athens Fine PM Profile during Economic Recession (March of 2008 versus March of 2013): Impact of Changes in Anthropogenic Emissions and the Associated Health Effect. Atmosphere. 2020; 11 (10):1121.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStyliani Pateraki; Kyriaki-Maria Fameli; Vasiliki Assimakopoulos; Kyriaki Bairachtari; Alexandros Zagkos; Theodora Stavraka; Aikaterini Bougiatioti; Thomas Maggos; Nikolaos Mihalopoulos. 2020. "Differentiation of the Athens Fine PM Profile during Economic Recession (March of 2008 versus March of 2013): Impact of Changes in Anthropogenic Emissions and the Associated Health Effect." Atmosphere 11, no. 10: 1121.
Fine particulate matter (PM) has significant impacts on public health. Among its various chemical components, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of particular importance since they contribute to a large extent or even enhance its toxic potency. Despite the verified importance of the fine PM pollution for the Greater Athens Area (GAA), information on its composition with respect to the hydrocarbons is extremely scarce. This study aims to uncover the occurrence of the PM2.5 and PM1-bound PAHs across the GAA investigating the impact of the sources and meteorology on the configuration of their profile and potential health risk. The fieldwork took place at three different locations during two different mesoscale wind regimes. Using the Diagnostic PAHs’ Ratio method, the sources were identified while for the quantification of the emissions from the traffic and central heating sectors, the FEI-GREGAA emission inventory was taken into consideration. The potential health risk was estimated calculating the toxic/mutagenic equivalency factors. The peaks for both the PM mass and the PAHs were attributed to the intensity of the emissions. On the other hand, the carcinogenic/mutagenic risk was mainly influenced by the varying characteristics of traffic and especially for the background atmosphere, from the arriving air masses from longer scale distances.
Styliani Pateraki; Kyriaki-Maria Fameli; Vasiliki Assimakopoulos; Aikaterini Bougiatioti; Thomas Maggos; Nikolaos Mihalopoulos. Levels, Sources and Health Risk of PM2.5 and PM1-Bound PAHs across the Greater Athens Area: The Role of the Type of Environment and the Meteorology. Atmosphere 2019, 10, 622 .
AMA StyleStyliani Pateraki, Kyriaki-Maria Fameli, Vasiliki Assimakopoulos, Aikaterini Bougiatioti, Thomas Maggos, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos. Levels, Sources and Health Risk of PM2.5 and PM1-Bound PAHs across the Greater Athens Area: The Role of the Type of Environment and the Meteorology. Atmosphere. 2019; 10 (10):622.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStyliani Pateraki; Kyriaki-Maria Fameli; Vasiliki Assimakopoulos; Aikaterini Bougiatioti; Thomas Maggos; Nikolaos Mihalopoulos. 2019. "Levels, Sources and Health Risk of PM2.5 and PM1-Bound PAHs across the Greater Athens Area: The Role of the Type of Environment and the Meteorology." Atmosphere 10, no. 10: 622.
With the principal aim to assess the typical Mediterranean profile of the PM2.5 and PM1 pollution, three intensive monitoring campaigns took place simultaneously within different types of environment across an urban location of the basin. Focusing on the PM components with numerous anthropogenic sources and increased potential health risk, the samples were chemically analyzed for 20 p.m.-bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Carbonaceous and ionic constituents were quantified as well. In order to uncover the spatiotemporal variation of the PM profile the key sources were identified, the seasonal effects and the role of the prevailing mesoscale atmospheric circulation were evaluated and most importantly the potential health risk was estimated. In general, the pollution status of the basin was the result of a complex interaction between the local and external input with Particulate Organic Matter (POM) and Secondary Inorganic Aerosols (SIA) being the main aerosols’ components. PM1 was a better indicator of the anthropogenic emissions while according to the results of factor analysis the co-existence of various combustion sources was determinant. Chemically, the maxima of the ΣPAHs, the differentiation of their structure in accordance with their molecular weight and the distribution of the individual compounds confirmed the significance of the emission sources. Similarly, the estimated carcinogenicity/mutagenicity was emission-dependent with the maximum contribution coming from B[a]P, IndP, B[ghi]Per, B[e]P and B[b]F. Seasonally, the highest potential health risk of the PAHs’ mixture was recorded during the cold season while meteorologically, it was mostly associated with the south flow.
St. Pateraki; D.N. Asimakopoulos; Thomas Maggos; V.D. Assimakopoulos; Aikaterini Bougiatioti; K. Bairachtari; Ch. Vasilakos; N. Mihalopoulos. Chemical characterization, sources and potential health risk of PM2.5 and PM1 pollution across the Greater Athens Area. Chemosphere 2019, 241, 125026 .
AMA StyleSt. Pateraki, D.N. Asimakopoulos, Thomas Maggos, V.D. Assimakopoulos, Aikaterini Bougiatioti, K. Bairachtari, Ch. Vasilakos, N. Mihalopoulos. Chemical characterization, sources and potential health risk of PM2.5 and PM1 pollution across the Greater Athens Area. Chemosphere. 2019; 241 ():125026.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSt. Pateraki; D.N. Asimakopoulos; Thomas Maggos; V.D. Assimakopoulos; Aikaterini Bougiatioti; K. Bairachtari; Ch. Vasilakos; N. Mihalopoulos. 2019. "Chemical characterization, sources and potential health risk of PM2.5 and PM1 pollution across the Greater Athens Area." Chemosphere 241, no. : 125026.