Uneven distribution of inorganic pollutants in marine air originating from ocean-going ships.

The distribution of mass, water-soluble inorganic salts and mineral elements of size-segregated aerosols (PM, PM and PM), precursor gaseous pollutants, black carbon, and nanoparticles (10-300 nm size range) at the Southern Bight of the North Sea has been studied. The concentrations of air pollutants peaked over shipping lanes, open-water anchorage areas and frequently navigated waters, due to the presence of mobile emission sources. A considerable decrease in air pollutant levels was seen when diverting from these marine areas towards remote or coastal banks.

Methods, fluxes and sources of gas phase alkyl nitrates in the coastal air.

The daily and seasonal atmospheric concentrations, deposition fluxes and emission sources of a few C3-C9 gaseous alkyl nitrates (ANs) at the Belgian coast (De Haan) on the Southern North Sea were determined. An adapted sampler design for low- and high-volume air-sampling, optimized sample extraction and clean-up, as well as identification and quantification of ANs in air samples by means of gas chromatography mass spectrometry, are reported. The total concentrations of ANs ranged from 0.

Composition of PM2.5 and PM1 on high and low pollution event days and its relation to indoor air quality in a home for the elderly.

Many studies probing the link between air quality and health have pointed towards associations between particulate matter (PM) exposure and decreased lung function, aggravation of respiratory diseases like asthma, premature death and increased hospitalisation admissions for the elderly and individuals with cardiopulmonary diseases. Of recent, it is believed that the chemical composition and physical properties of PM may contribute significantly to these adverse health effects. As part of a Belgian Science Policy project ("Health effects of particulate matter in relation to physical-chemical characteristics and meteorology"), the chemical composition (elemental and ionic compositions) and physical properties (PM mass concentrations) of PM were investigated, indoors and outdoors of old age homes in Antwerp.

Large-volume injection combined with gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Rationale: Compound-specific stable isotope analyses of carbon require relatively large amounts of sample for reliable analyses. Commonly applied injections of 1 μL may thus be insufficient for samples with low concentrations of pollutants (e.g.

Major ionic species in size-segregated aerosols and associated gaseous pollutants at a coastal site on the Belgian North Sea.

The chemical composition of airborne particulate matter (PM) was studied at a coastal region near De Haan, Belgium, during a winter-spring and a summer campaign in 2006. The major ionic components of size-segregated PM, i.e.