Category: air pollution

Help Us Breathe Cleaner Air: Citizen Science Project Seeks Donations for Wood Smoke Research

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

I won’t write a long introduction because this is of urgent matter for people to understand and support. While wood-burning stoves offer a tempting escape from soaring energy costs, they also release harmful substances into our homes and communities. These include fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), both of which have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer.

Unveiling the Hidden Danger

Despite the known risks, we still lack sufficient data on PAHs concentrations in residential areas where wood burning is common. The location of investigation will be chosen in the Netherlands or Belgium. This is where your help is crucial.

By supporting this citizen science project, you’ll help us gather vital information about the impact of wood smoke on our air quality. The project will measure PAHs and PM2.5 levels in a residential area heavily reliant on wood burning for heating. This data will be invaluable for raising awareness among policymakers and advocating for stronger air quality regulations.

How Your Donation Makes a Difference

Analyzing air for PAHs is a complex process requiring specialized equipment and laboratory analysis. With your support, the project will:

  • Purchase air pumps and ten (10) absorption tubes to collect air samples.
  • Conduct laboratory analysis to identify and quantify PAHs.
  • Measure PM2.5 levels using advanced sensors.
  • Compare PAHs levels in wood-burning areas to background levels.

Join the Fight for Clean Air

Your donation will directly contribute to a healthier community. Together, we can uncover the hidden dangers of wood smoke and work towards cleaner air for everyone. Finally, I want to thank Dieter Pientka for his passion to investigate this crucial subject.

Help us make a difference. Donate today!

Exciting News! “Nicholas and his Incredible Eyesight” Now Available in Farsi! 🇮🇷

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

Calling all Farsi readers! I am thrilled to announce that the beloved “Nicholas and his Incredible Eyesight” book series is now translated into Farsi (modern Persian). Since Farsi language printed books aren’t currently supported by Amazon, I’ve decided to make the digital format of my book available for free to everyone. This way, readers can still enjoy the work regardless of the limitations on print formats.

This exciting adventure awaits anyone who wants to join Nicholas on his amazing journeys. With his incredible eyesight, Nicholas sees the world in a whole new way, encountering challenges and surprises along the path.

A special thanks to Solmaz Ahadi, Air Quality Specialist, for her invaluable help in bringing this translation to life!

Want your FREE digital copy? It’s easy! Simply leave a comment below this announcement or contact me and I will send it straight to you.

Let’s celebrate the magic of storytelling and the power of Nicholas incredible eyesight – in Farsi! 

#FarsiBooks #FreeBooks #ChildrensBooks #NicholasAndHisIncredibleEyesight #AirQuality

Can an Air Expert Escape Air Pollution? A 2-Month, 6-Month, and Year-Long Experiment in Personal Air Quality

Sotirios Papathanasiou3 Comments

Air pollution is an invisible threat, silently impacting our health. But what if you knew exactly where it lurked, both indoors and outdoors? Could an air quality expert, armed with this knowledge and personal equipment, achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines for extended periods?

This is the question I, Sotirios Papathanasiou, an air quality expert,  will try to figure out over the next year. Starting July 1st, 2024, I embarked on a unique experiment, tracking my personal air quality for a full year. I am monitoring two key air quality metrics: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and PM2.5 (fine particulate matter). However, PM2.5 data will be excluded when relative humidity surpasses 70% because the limitations of low-cost sensors. I will be carrying an Atmotube Pro and an AIRVALENT everywhere I go.

I am your human guinea pig, carrying these portable air quality monitors everywhere – from my bedroom to my gym, from my kitchen while cooking to the beach on a weekend getaway. This comprehensive data will allow us to see if, despite my expertise in pollution sources and protective measures, I can consistently meet the WHO’s air quality guidelines.

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Don’t Be Fooled by Mass: Why Counting Particles Is One Way Street for Sub-micron Air Quality Monitoring

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

While monitoring air quality, scientists traditionally relied on mass concentration to measure particulate matter (PM). This metric tells you the total mass of particles per unit volume of air. But for sub-micron particles – those less than one micrometer in diameter – mass concentration falls short. Here’s why measuring particle number by size distribution is a superior approach.

The Small Matter of Small Particles

Sub-micron particles are incredibly tiny. Imagine a human hair – typically around 70 microns thick. A sub-micron particle is hundreds to thousands of times smaller! Due to their miniscule mass, even large numbers of sub-micron particles can register a low mass concentration. This can be misleading, as the health risks they pose aren’t dependent solely on weight.

Penetrating Deep: Size Matters More

Sub-micron particles, especially those in the ultrafine range (less than 100 nanometers), are deeply concerning. Their small size allows them to bypass the body’s natural defenses and infiltrate deep into the lungs. These particles can even enter the bloodstream, potentially causing respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

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Over-the-Range Hood Microwaves: Addressing Indoor Air Quality Concerns

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment

Over-the-range hood microwaves offer the convenience of a combined microwave and “ventilation” system. However, a common misconception is that they effectively remove cooking fumes and pollutants from the kitchen. While they do have a fan system, it’s crucial to understand their limitations.

Recirculation vs. True Ventilation:

Unlike range hoods that vent exhaust outdoors, most over-the-range microwaves utilize a recirculation system. This means they draw in cooking fumes, grease, and moisture through a metallic mesh filter with holes bigger than a Swiss cheese, then release the “treated” air back into the kitchen.

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Dust Devils of Doom: Sand Storm & Haboob and Their Invisible Assault on Human Health

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment

Recently, I met Dr. Karin Ardon-Dryer and she is my new favorite scientist/superstar because of her research and her charismatic way to share important information to the public. She was able to captivate everyone in the room with her presentation Effect of Dust Particles on Human Health at Miami University.

Sand storms, often romanticized in movies and documentaries, pose a far more significant threat than just a dramatic backdrop. These swirling giants of dust wreak havoc on air quality, carrying not just coarse sand but also microscopic fine particles with serious implications for human health. While sand storms are often associated with arid regions far from home, their reach extends farther than you might think, impacting even areas within the United States. Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and even eastern California are some of the states that experience poor air quality from such meteorological phenomena.

Haboob vs Sandstorm vs Dust Storms 

  • Haboob (Arabic for blasting/drifting) is a strong wind carrying a mass of dust and sand that has been lifted from the ground in very dry areas such as deserts.
  • Sandstorm is a windstorm especially in a desert, that blows along great clouds of sand.
  • Dust storms carry much smaller particles, which can be carried higher and further than sandstorms. 
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5 European Cities Air Quality

Air Quality Report from 5 Major European Cities

Sotirios Papathanasiou2 Comments

European cities are showing significant progress in combating air pollution, according to data collected from active official traffic air quality stations. There are positive trends which translate to cleaner air for residents, with reductions in harmful pollutants like PM2.5 and NO2. This article explores the known strategies that these cities have implemented to achieve such remarkable improvements, offering valuable insights for other urban centers striving for a healthier future.

These are the 5 cities and traffic air quality stations that I have analyzed data from.

  • Berlin DEBE068 (B Mitte, Brückenstraße)
  • Madrid ES0118A (Escuela Aguirre)
  • Rome IT1906A (Arenula)
  • Paris FR04012 (Place Victor Basch)
  • Athens GR0003A (Aristotelous)
European Air Quality Network – Active and Inactive Air Quality Stations
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The European Union Agreed on New Rules & PM2.5/NO2 Limits for Cleaner Air

Sotirios Papathanasiou7 Comments

On February 20, 2024, the Council of the EU released a press release that discusses the agreement reached by the Council and Parliament to strengthen air quality standards in the EU. The new standards are expected to improve air quality and reduce premature deaths. They will be reviewed regularly and could be further strengthened in the future.

EU lawmakers have joined forces to strengthen air quality standards by 2030. These new, stricter limits and targets align more closely with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and will be subject to regular review. The updated directive tackles a range of air pollutants, including fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and even toxic metals like arsenic and lead. Each pollutant has its own specific standard, with the most significant reductions targeting those posing the greatest health risks. For example, annual limits for PM2.5 and NO2 will be more than halved, dropping from 25 µg/m³ to 10 µg/m³ and 40 µg/m³ to 20 µg/m³, respectively.

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US EPA Finalizes New Standards for Harmful Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

Sotirios Papathanasiou2 Comments

In a landmark decision, on February 7th, 2024 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled stricter regulations for fine particulate matter, a major air pollutant linked to numerous health problems. This marks the first update to the EPA’s standards in over a decade, and officials anticipate it will save thousands of American lives annually. Fine particulate matter, often referred to as “soot,” penetrates deep into lungs and even enters the bloodstream, posing significant health risks.

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Ventilation Is Not Always An Option & Ventilation Needs to Be Done Correctly

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment


Part 1: Ventilation Is Not Always An Option

Ventilation isn’t always an option in all areas and indoor spaces. Here are some key reasons why:

Environmental challenges:

  • Extreme weather: In very hot or cold climates, opening windows can be impractical or counterproductive. In scorching temperatures, opening windows might invite more heat in, while in freezing temperatures, it can cause heat loss and discomfort.
  • Air pollution: In areas with high levels of outdoor air pollution (e.g., traffic fumes, industrial emissions, wildfires), opening windows can actually worsen indoor air quality by bringing in the polluted air.

Space limitations:

  • Windowless rooms: Basements, interior rooms, and some commercial spaces like server rooms often lack windows, making natural ventilation impossible.
  • Small or airtight spaces: Tiny apartments, trailers, and even some modern, energy-efficient houses can be so tightly sealed that natural ventilation is insufficient.
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