Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
gaseous and aerosol species are recent due to the complexity and variability of the
processes in which particulate matter is involved [
38
].
Nowadays, highly sophisticated modelling approaches are available, which
allow assessing PM at high spatial and temporal resolution, as needed for human
exposure estimation. Thus no new models need to be developed (models predicting
transport and transformation of aerosols in the atmosphere are available). Instead,
methods need to be devised which are able to reduce uncertainty of modelled
outputs. The respective results made available for a certain use allows understand-
ing if answers to specific user questions can or cannot be supplied reliably.
Therefore, before being used for policies and health evaluation, PM air quality
models must be evaluated, a process which can now be carried out over long time
periods [
37
,
39
] due to the increase in computer power and memory. All models are
useful and the choice of an appropriate model is heavily dependent on the intended
application: the type and dimension of the area, and the final goal of the study (air
quality management, exposure and health estimations, etc.).
As shown along this chapter, a reliable air quality model is a valuable tool for
human exposure studies, once modelled concentrations at different spatial scales
and time resolutions allow to better characterising the air quality at the
microenvironments visited by a target population, rather than monitoring values
that are site and time specific. Moreover, air quality and exposure modelling
approach considers the contribution of indoor environments, where people spend
most of their time, to the exposure estimation.
During the last two decades or so several chemistry-transport models have been
developed in Europe and elsewhere. They are already widely applied for PM
exposure and health-related issues, at local, urban and regional scales, but an effort
is still needed to take more advantage of this third generation models (Chemical
Transport Models including aerosol chemistry) on epidemiological studies.
Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the 3rd
European Framework Program and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher
Education, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), for the Post-Doc grants of
J. Ferreira (SFRH/BPD/40620/2007) and J. Valente (SFRH/BPD/78933/2011) and for the funding
of research project INSPIRAR (PTDC/AAC-AMB/103895/2008), supported in the scope of the
Competitiveness Factors Thematic Operational Programme (COMPETE) of the Community
Support Framework III and by the European Community Fund FEDER.
References
1. Seinfeld JH, Pandis SN (2006) Atmospheric chemistry and physics: from air pollution to
climate change. Wiley, Hoboken
2. EEA (2003) Europe's environment: the third assessment. European Environment Agency,
Copenhagen
3. EC (2008) Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May
2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe. European Commission, Brussels
4. EEA (2005) Environment and health. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen
