COST ACTION 633

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COST ACTION 633   Particulate Matter Properties
Related to Health Effects
Janja Turšic, National Institute of Chemistry,
Slovenia Vice Chair MC COST 633
Brussels, 12th October 2004
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General information

• Memorandum of Understanding - signed 13.03.2002
• Duration 13.03.2002 13.10.2007
• Chair Regina Hitzenberger (Vienna, Austria)
• Number of currently participating countries 18
• Signatories Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic,
  Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
  Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway,
  Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United
  Kingdom
• Turkey left Action,
• Poland and Sweden wish to join

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Background
Atmospheric particles are one of the major
components responsible for air pollution.
Epidemiological studies in recent years gave a
strong hint on extended morbidity and mortality
due to even relatively low PM concentrations. In
many European countries research activities as
well as extensive monitoring programs are focused
on PM. Additionally, epidemiological and
toxicological studies focused on different health
endpoints and high risk groups are conducted.
Since most of these studies are done
independently at present, intensive exchange of
experiences among experts from different fields
would be of great benefit.
 
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Objective

• The objective of COST 633 is looking for
  heterogeneities in Europe from the point of view
  of
• chemical and physical properties of PM
• particle sources
• influence of PM on health

 

• Tasks of COST 633 are
• Review existing data and methods
• Identify gaps
• Propose future research activities.
• Since there is no financial support (with
  exception of STSMs) for research, all activities
  will be mainly oriented towards using existing
  data.

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Working groups within COST 633
? WG1 Ambient air quality data (Jean-Philippe
Putaud, JRC, Ispra and Axel Berner, Austria ) ?
WG2 Health realted issues of particles (Raimo
Salonen, Finland and Wolfgang Kreyling,
Germany) ? WG3 Sources, emissions, modeling,
economic aspects (Thomas Kuhlbusch, Germany and
Markus Amann, Austria)
 
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WG1 Ambient air quality data

• Collection of existing data in different
  countries to highlight regional differences in
  Europe
• Assessment and review of currently available
  techniques (sampling and analysis) with respect
  to the needs of the health related studies
• Investigation of contribution of traffic aerosols
  (connected to WG3)

 
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WG2 Health related issues of particles

• Collection of existing epidemiological data
  associated with ambient air PM (considering
  regional, seasonal and source related aspects)
• Review of existing studies on toxicology
• Assessment of the role of human exposure to
  ambient air PM in the observed heterogeneities in
  health aspects
• Giving recommendations for human risk assessment
  and management

 
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WG3 Sources, emissions, modelling,
economic aspects

• Compilation of results connected with PM10,
  PM2.5, PM1
• Emissions inventories
• Reviewing source apportionment methods and models
  used in EU
• Integrated assessment models (cost effectiveness
  of reduction procedures)

 
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Planed results
As a result of looking for heterogeneities, a
certain number of interesting regions in Europe
will be identified. It will be proposed to
conduct measurements and health related studies
in these regions. The information obtained
during COST 633 will be used for setting
environmental standards (regarding limits and
methodologies for monitoring) in Europe and for
defining measures to reduce emissions of primary
particles and precursor substances.
 
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Meetings up till now

• 1st meeting of the Management Committee
• (Brussels, October 14th 2002)
• 1st meeting of the Steering Group of the
  Management Committee
• (Vienna, March 13th and 14th 2003)
• 2nd meeting of the Management Committee
• (Ispra, May 13th 15th 2004)
• 2nd meeting of the Steering Group of the
  Management Committee
• (Munich, September 23th and 24th 2004)

 
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Planed activities

• 3rd meeting of the Management Committee together
  with Working group meeting
• (Brussels, November 18th 20th 2004)
• (further meetings will be scheduled then)
• COST Action 633 conference
• (tentatively set for April 3rd 7th 2006,
  Vienna, Austria)
• STSMs - so far there is only one application, but
  we intend to use STSMs especially for performing
  additional analysis on existing data

 
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Problems

• There was no money available at the beginning
  (transfer of COST secretariat from European
  Commission to European Science Foundation),
  therefore activities actually started with a 1.5
  year delay.
• Since WG2 has only a few active members/experts,
  it is necessary to enlarge this group (nomination
  of new experts from the medical sector). Extra
  persons will be asked to join WG2 from the
  Brussels meeting onwards.
• WG3 expressed need for one or two more experts
  in the field of modeling.

 
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Dissemination of Results

• Types of publications
• publications arising from projects that got
  funded because of a letter of support from the MC
  or resulting from STSMs
• joint papers between members of two different
  organisations within COST 633
• other COST 633 related publications (research and
  political statements, reports of national
  representatives)

 
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Collaborations

• COST Action 633 is interdisciplinary oriented.
  Established or planned relationships with other
  organizations include
• AIRNET (A Thematic Network on Air Pollution
  and Health)
• CAFÉ (Clean Air for Europe)
• WHO (World Health Organization)
• CEN (European Committee for Standardization)
• NORDAIR (Nordic Aspect of Air Pollution and
  Health)