Patras: Fireplaces, humidity and microclimate increase air pollution

The burning of of fireplacescombined with the prevailing ones meteorological conditions and microclimate of the area of ​​Patras, are mainly responsible for the increased levels of pollution with suspended microparticles, recorded in the last period of time, says, speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, the professor of Applied Physics of the University of Patras, Andreas Kazantzidis.

In fact, as he adds, “based on the measurements from the network stations”Ether“, in this time period, as has been the case for the last 10 years, very high values ​​of suspended microparticles are recorded, mainly during the evening hours”.

At the same time, he notes, that “episodes of pollution are a phenomenon, which acts cumulatively”.

Explaining, Andreas Kazantzidis, how the phenomenon of pollution acts cumulatively, he tells APE – MPE that “when there are a number of days, where the meteorological conditions favor the stay of suspended particles in the place where they are emitted, this results in the pollution of a new day to be added to the pollution already present from the previous day’.

Also, according to the professor of Applied Physics, “relative humidity plays a role in increasing pollution prices, as well as other types of fuel that burn, such as oil, but the big difference is made by fireplaces, since per hour of heating the number of of emitting microparticles is very large’.

At the same time, he emphasizes that “a percentage of pollution, of the order of 20% to 30%, comes from other areas”.

Regarding the role played by the microclimate of the area of ​​Patras in the increase of air pollution, the professor of Applied Physics, describes to APE – MPE that “the relief of the wider area of ​​Patras, which is surrounded by hills and the Panachaic mountain ‘entraps’ in essence the microparticles”.

“Therefore”, he points out, “only strong winds can clear the atmosphere and this is recorded in the northern areas of Patras, such as Rio and Kastelokambos, where the quality of the atmosphere is much better, due to the winds”. “At the same time”, he continues, “increased levels of pollution are recorded, within the urban fabric of Patras, from Dasyllio and further south, but also in other, in the southern areas outside the center, such as Paralia, Demenika and Lefka”.

As mentioned above, measurements for atmospheric pollution are made by the stations of the “Etheras” network, created and operated by the Atmospheric Physics Laboratory of the University of Patras.

The specific network consists of sensors measuring suspended particles, panoramic cameras and an online platform that records the air quality in Patras, in real time.

As he says to APE – BEE o Andreas Kazantzidis“we have a lot of stations and we have been measuring the prevailing conditions for more than five years”, while as he adds, “there is an ongoing collaboration with those responsible for environmental issues of primary and secondary education”.

“As part of this collaboration”, he continues, “we are enriching the network by placing stations in schools, for this and we estimate that with the new network of pollution measuring stations we will now know by neighborhood what is happening”.

At the same time, as the professor emphasizes, “we include all schools in information programs, since the students are particularly aware of environmental protection issues, and this is something that is particularly satisfying to us, while after the holidays we will also hold a seminar for teachers”

RES-EMP

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