Particles and Photo-oxidants in Europe

Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26th September
Narodni dum Conference Centre, Prague, Czech Republic

The conference was arranged by the AAMG with co-operation from the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute (CHMI), the European Commission and environmental organisations from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The conference, which was a follow up to the Particles in Europe Conference held in Antwerp on 2006, was held in the Narodni dum, the National House, near to Wenceslas Square. The neo-renaissance House was built in 1894 and restored in 1999 to its original grandeur, a spectacular national meeting place for organisations, theatres, shows and conferences.

The conference was opened by Karel Blaha, Deputy Director for Air Quality, at the Czech Ministry of the Environment and was attended by approximately 100 delegates and speakers. Most member states of the EU were represented, including many East European states. Posters and an impressive exhibition of equipment for environmental monitoring, including demonstrations of sophisticated automated real-time air monitoring stations monitoring the local atmosphere, supported the presentations. A wine and cheese evening, sponsored by the exhibitors, was held on Thursday. This proved very popular probably due to the excellent catering, interesting exhibition and much networking.

The intention of the programme was to provide delegates with detailed information on the reasons for monitoring, pollutants that need to be monitored and the principles and practice of analytical procedures. The conference opened with a series of presentations on the European perspective, strategies for air quality and procedures for implementing the directives and monitoring air pollution. The following sessions included presentations on the nature of ‘particles’ and their health hazards and the principles and practice of monitoring and related quality assurance issues. Additional topics discussed the physical and chemical properties of photo-oxidants. The presentations provided up to date information on particles and anti-oxidants of concern and monitoring procedures needed to determine pollutant levels.