On 27 February 2015 representatives from all seven partners of the LIFE project AIRUSE (LIFE11 ENV/ES/000584) participated in a meeting with the European Commission in Brussels. The objective of the meeting was to provide an overview of the project results to DG Environment staff.
The AIRUSE project aims to develop and adapt cost-effective and appropriate measures to ensure better air quality in urban areas, with a particular focus on the cities of Porto, Barcelona, Milan, Florence and Athens. By identifying the most effective mitigation measures to reduce particulate matter levels to acceptable limits, it thus contributes to meeting current and future EU targets regarding air quality.
Project partners were welcomed by Scott Brockett, Andre Zuber, Daniela Buzica and Marta Muñoz-Cuesta from DG Environment. Topics discussed at the meeting included: the conclusions of the project regarding particulate matter source apportionment; the project’s particulate matter mitigation trials; and recommendations on how to decrease particulate matter in the five southern European cities targeted by the project.
The project analysis led to the following main conclusions:
- road traffic is the main source of particles in the air;
- biomass burning is a significant source of particulate matter in four out of the five cities;
- particulate matter limits were exceeded for different reasons depending on the city and were usually due to traffic, biomass burning and African dust intrusion;
- systematic street washing helps reduce road dust;
- dust suppressants (CMA and MgCl2) are not good at reducing particulate matter levels;
- nano-polymers are good at reducing soil re-suspension in urban parks;
- traditional residential combustion appliances should be replaced by certified equipment and firewood and pellets sales should be regulated;
- existing industrial inventories of particulate matter should be improved;
- the Best Available Techniques for channelled and fugitive emissions should be updated periodically and the key parameters harmonised (Total Suspended Particulate, PM10 and PM2.5);
- for low emission zones to be efficient they need to be stringent and include cars;
- promoting cleaner vehicle technologies requires consistent long-term policies; and
- public information should be provided on the air quality implications of fuel choice.
The next phase of the AIRUSE project will disseminate project results and recommendations to relevant national and local stakeholders, as well as to policy and science forums. Complete reports and more information are available on the AIRUSE webpage.
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