UNDP/RCA/IAEA Project (RAS/97/030 /A/01/18)

Air Pollution and Trends

Objective:

Application of isotopic and related techniques to the assessment of air pollution, particularly its trends and movement in the region.

Many of the cities in Asia have high concentrations of fine atmospheric particulate matter, in particular fine particles with diameters less than 2.5 micrometer, known as PM2.5. This type of air pollutant has serious health impacts. In July 1997 the US EPA introduced, for the first time, PM2.5 fine particle standards or goals for atmospheric air pollution. These were 15 gglm' for the annual average and 65 gg/M3 for 24 hour maximum. This was mainly in recognition of the significance of the finer particles especially related to recent health effect studies and visibility problems in populated areas. Many, if not most, major capital cities in nearly all countries throughout the world would be close to or above these goals. The PM2.5 air particulate matter is not only limited to city areas but due to its persistency in air it can also be transported nationwide or to neighbouring countries. High air pollution episodes may have health impacts and may cause economic problems for some nations. For example the recent haze event in late 1997 occurred in many countries in the southeast Asian region caused severe reduction in visibility, cancellation and delay in transportation, reduction in agriculture production, shipping accidents, inland transport accidents and lose of revenue from tourism.

It has therefore become very important to not only measure the levels of fine particles in and around major cities and industrial areas but to also identify the sources of these particles. In urban areas these fine particles are mostly associated with just a few key sources such as windblown soils, sea spray, biomass burning, motor vehicles and other combustion processes associated with industry.

Isotope and related techniques provide quantitative multi-element analysis with high sensitivity; this enables analysis of samples of very low masses. They can be effectively used along with other more conventional methods to fully characterise atmospheric particles with respect to elements and tie their origins to particular sources; for example the elemental analysis of AI and Si, Ti and Fe to windblown soils, Mg, Na and Cl to seaspray, and H, Zn, Br and Pb to motor vehicles.

Laboratories in most of the Member States have the capability to carry out these measurements. The Project envisages enhancing the capability of all the Member States in these areas; this will be achieved through QA/QC exercises, fellowship training, workshops and national seminars. The use of identical monitors and standardised protocols will produce easily harmonisable data for interpretation. A mechanism for a regional database through a networking system is also envisaged to enhance regional cooperation in addressing air pollution issues.

Realizing the enormous importance of understanding the cause and assessment of data of air pollution especially its trend and movement in the region, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has approved a five year project entitled "Better Management of the Enviromnent, Natural Resources and Industrial Growth through Isotopes and Radiation Technology (RAS/8/076)". Under this program, sub-project 1.3 on the application of isotope technique to the assessment of air pollution, particularly its trends and movements in the region has been included.

The End Users:

It is anticipated that the Project will provide useful information for a range of organizations directly interested in fine particle pollution matters. Each Member State will endeavour to involve their local regulatory bodies, environmental protection agencies and local concerned industries. Furthermore, each Member State will benefit from the information and data of other Member States and the general public will have an enhanced awareness of air pollution problems through the implementation of this project.

The following organizations will be the users in the Project outcomes:

• State EPA'S, national research organisations, eg CSIRO
• Regulatory organizations, local councils
• Steel / metal production industries

India

• State level and national level monitoring organizations
• Regulatory bodies

• Environmental agencies eg BAPEDAL

• Ministry of Science and Technology
• Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute
• Ministry of Envirorunent
• National Institute of Environmental Research

Myanmar

• Industry and health.
• Regulatory bodies for industries.

New Zealand

• Government EPA's
• Ministry of Transport
• Industries, Crown Research Institutes (CRI's)

• Envirownent Protection Agency (EPA)
• Regulatory bodies
• Non government organizations
• Different industrial sectors

• Envirorunental and health authorities
• Policy makers
• Air pollution research groups
• Industries

Singapore

• Government regulatory authorities, and various industries.

• Ministry of Science, Technology and Envirorunent
• Regulatory organizations
• Environmental Research Institute

• General Envirorunental Department and local authorities
• Regulatory health orgmdations
• Environmental research institutions

Need for Regional Approach

The problem of urban air pollution is worldwide and transcends national boundaries. Major advantages can be obtained both in the understanding of the problem and in attempting to address solutions by taking a regional approach rather than a national approach. Pollution generated in one country affects neighbouring countries. For example, the recent smoke from biomass burning episodes in certain parts of south east Asia, during the latter half of 1997, affected Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand and even some parts of northwestern Australia as well as the southern tip of the Indian peninsula.

By pooling experience and information, each nation has access to a broader range of available techniques to solve the problem and unnecessary duplication of data and analysis methods is avoided. There are many synergies from different groups working together and assisting others that may be sub-critical otherwise to become more viable. Clearly the regional approach is also the most cost-effective way of using the limited resources available to address the common air pollution problem.

Technical Justification

The range of analytical methods available to address the Project problems is quite broad and obviously capable of achieving the outcomes. In particular, isotopic and related techniques for multi-elemental analysis of many samples of small size are most cost effective. All Member States have varying capabilities in these techniques and will be using the same type of samplers and sampling protocols. This will greatly enhance the quality of the data and is a major advantage for this Project.

A key aim of this Project is to enhance and upgrade the application of isotopic and related techniques in air pollution studies of all Member States

The Table below summarizes analytical methods available to the Project through each Member State.

Analytical resources available in the region to the Project.

* Several Project members already have access to the latest methods for pollution source apportionment through chemical mass balance methods, which are a direct application of these multi-elemental nuclear techniques.

Expected Outputs

The Project has identified several key success criteria that relate to the expected outcomes, these include:-

• Establishment of capability to undertake accurate monitoring of air particulate pollution and transboundary transport through at least two Member States. This capability will be shown by the results of a quality assurance proficiency test reflecting international standards.
• Provision of information for at least one electronic newsletter and homepage available on line to all RCA countries and end users in collaboration with the sub-project on electronics networking.
• Availability of documentation to environment authorities and nuclear institutes that assesses regional capabilities in nuclear techniques related to the assessment of the air particulate pollution sources both nationally and regionauy.
• Hosting of at least one Regional Planning Meeting for the application of nuclear methods to the study of regional air pollution, with participation by national/ regional authorities responsible for air quality standards.
• Identification/quantification of sources through source apportionment of regional air pollution levels, which may be achieved through at least one regional project and a CRP following this project.
• Mapping of sources of pollution by the use of isotopic and related techniques by a core of regional expertise, including one or several Member States involved in such activities by giving advice on policy decisions related to urban air pollution.

• Provision of information on comparative levels of airborne particulate matter in the size range (PM2.5) that has a direct impact on human health together with information on source identities and the partitioning among these sources.

• Provision of information on the long range transport of air pollutants.

• Identification of the relative adverse effects of different sources of pollution to enable rational decision making on the most cost-effective means for mitigating air pollution in individual urban areas such as "no burd' or "car-free" days during episodes of high pollution.
• Improvements in analytical and data processing capabilities
• Increase in national and regional collaboration between nuclear and non-nuclear institutions involved in environmental monitoring of air pollution.
• Provision of readily available database related to the air Pollution in the region with updates.
• Holding of an End of Project Conference (involving NCs and all contributors to the Project, about 50 participants) together with the production of a book of papers
• Bringing all Member States up to a high international level of data interpretation and understanding through training in the application of source apportionment and chemical mass balance methods.