The proposal of the funded project can be found in English as NRSF-Thalis-FullProposal-English.odt.pdf and in Greek as NRSF-Thalis-FullProposal-Greek.odt.pdf.
OVERVIEW
The subject of this funded project was the study of natural and artificial air pollutants (n-AP,a-AP) that determine air quality (AQ). Such pollutants are radon-R and progeny-RP, the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), trace gases, oxides (e.g. SOx, NOx, COx), Ozone(O3), the Particulate Matter (PM) and, conditionally, background electromagnetic (b-EM) and γ-radiation (b-γ). The effect of human exposure to n-AP and a-AP is to increase the probability of incidence of cancer and genetic damage. Ecotoxic effects also appear in the food chain and the environment. The effects appear both, indoors and outdoors, and, hence, render the attainment of an multidisciplinary approach through combination of experiments and simulations.
The aim was the evaluation of the air quality (AQ) through the assortment of information regarding the concentration, transportation and movement of the aforementioned n-AP and a-AP (mainly indoors) through measurements, modelling and simulations. Additionally, the elaboration of related parameter and the analysis of the consequent repercussions. Towards this, target populations were studied in three Greek areas.
Implemented Actions
Action 1 has been completed and submitted. The scientific preparation of the projects has been implemented. Seven studies have been delivered in the framework of Action 1.
Action2 has been completed. The following measurements have been conducted:
I. Radon & progeny
A. Active Measurements
(1) 141 daily active radon measurements, pressure, temperature, relative humidity in six indoor places Attica.
(2) 39 daily active radon measurements, pressure, temperature, relative humidity in six indoor places Lesvos.
(3) 81 daily active measurements of radon and its progeny, pressure, temperature, relative humidity in six indoor places Attica.
(4) 20 daily active measurements of radon and its progeny, pressure, temperature, relative humidity in six indoor places Ilia.
(5) 3 daily active measurements of radon and its progeny, pressure, temperature, relative humidity in six indoor places Achaia.
(6) 8 daily active measurements of radon and its progeny, pressure, temperature, relative humidity in six indoor places Zakynthos.
B. Passive Measurements
(1). 200 passive measurements of radon in six indoor places Attica
(2) 40 passive measurements of radon in six indoor places Achaia passive (3) 71 passive measurements of radon in six indoor places Ilia (4) 12 passive measurements of radon in six indoor places in Lesvos (5) 73 passive radon measurements in as many indoor places schools in Lesvos (6) 370 passive radon measurements in as many indoor places Crete.
Total indoor places P measurements & RT, relevant parameters: 292 active, 766 passive
II.Background EM radiation
(1) 221 measurements of background EM radiation with three different gauges (AARONIA, ANTENESSA, Hall-meter) Attica
(2) 322 measurements of background EM radiation Zakynthos (AARONIA)
(3) 30 measurements of background EM radiation Ilia (ANTENESSA)
(4) 964 measurements of background EM radiation Lesvos (NARDA).
Total background EM radiation measurements: 1537
III. Background gamma radation
(1). 208 measurements in Zakynthos.
(2) 355 measurements in Lesvos
(3) 93 spectrometry measurements (natural radioactivity) territories in Crete.
Total background gamma measurements: 656
IV.O3
(1). 500 measurements O3 Zakynthos
Total TAP measurements: 250
Note that to date (07-07-2014) has not yet supply equipment.
Action3 has been implemented.
I. Packages CONTAM, CONTAMW and EPA-RISK have been installed and utilised. 100 houses have been modeled and movement result charts have been generatedregarding the concentrations of: (a) radon and progeny (b) COx (c) NOx (c) SOx (c) O3
II. Monte Carlo techniques have been efficiently employed in modelling and simulation of the movement of radon and progeny in indoor places.
III. Long memory traces have been addressed in radon concentration signals collected from measurements in indoor places. The traces have been found with specially designed and sophisticated techniques based on the R/S analysis.
Action 4 has been implemented.
Action 5 is completed. The website (http://indraq.teipir.gr/) has been developed and is still maintained.
The project activities have already published in 18 peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings.
