Brussels, 31/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - To increase scientific knowledge on urban air pollution and to combat that phenomenon in large European cities, the Commission has just launched an experimental study aimed at measuring air pollution in Milan in January and February 2003. This study, undertaken by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in collaboration with the regional Italian environmental protection agency, will determine the source of harmful pollutants thanks to the latest JRC technology - a mass-spectrometer-based Single Particle Analysis and Sizing System. The choice of Milan as "guinea-pig" city for this pilot study rests on the results of a recent JRC study by which the levels of particle matter pollution in northern Italy are among the highest in Europe, and much higher than the maximum levels of concentration authorised by European legislation.
The data gathered by this method (identification of a positive and negative ion spectrum for each particle) will be used in specifically developed statistical programmes developed by the JRC to quantify each source's contribution (traffic, domestic heating, industry) to the concentration of particulate matter in the atmosphere. This will allow for less-costly anti-pollutant measures to be implemented , as required by "Clean air for Europe" programme.
Commenting on this new initiative, Philippe Busquin, Commissioner for research, declared:
"Air pollution in our cities requires urgent action. We need more environmental research. We need to detect and measure air pollution. And closely monitor changes in pollution patterns. The aim is to help national and regional authorities better analyse the problem, identify health hazards related to dangerous substances in the air, devise and implement appropriate strategies to counter this phenomenon in a cost-effective way, with the help of EU authorities".