Impact of peri-urban forest fires on air quality and aerosol optical and chemical properties: The case of the August 2021 wildfires in Athens, Greece.

Wildfires occurring near urban areas are known to have exceedingly detrimental impacts on the environment, air quality, economy and human health. In this framework, this study examines the effects of peri-urban forest fires on atmospheric chemical composition, and aerosol physical-optical properties in Athens, Greece, during August 2021. Satellite imagery and air mass trajectories showed advection of intense smoke plumes over Athens from three forest fires persisting for 10 days in the greater Athens area and in Central Greece (Euboea).

Spatiotemporal Gradients of PAH Concentrations in Greek Cities and Associated Exposure Impacts.

To study the spatiotemporal variability of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and assess their carcinogenic potential in six contrasting urban environments in Greece, a total of 305 filter samples were collected and analyzed. Sampling sites included a variety of urban background, traffic (Athens, Ioannina and Heraklion), rural (Xanthi) and near-port locations (Piraeus and Volos). When considering the sum of 16 U.

A direct method to quantify methanol-soluble organic carbon for brown carbon absorption studies.

The current research provides a newly developed method to quantify methanol-soluble organic carbon (MeS_OC) in aerosol samples. This analytical procedure allows an accurate separation of MeS-OC component, which is critical for the calculation of mass absorption efficiency (MAE) of ambient Brown Carbon (BrC) and consequently its climate relevant potential. The method includes extraction, filtering and condensation stages, leading to the preparation of a highly concentrated product in which MeS-OC can be precisely quantified by a Sunset Carbon Analyzer in a single analysis step.

Brown carbon absorption and radiative effects under intense residential wood burning conditions in Southeastern Europe: New insights into the abundance and absorptivity of methanol-soluble organic aerosols.

Biomass burning is a major source of Brown Carbon (BrC), strongly contributing to radiative forcing. In urban areas of the climate-sensitive Southeastern European region, where strong emissions from residential wood burning (RWB) are reported, radiative impacts of carbonaceous aerosols remain largely unknown. This study examines the absorption properties of water- and methanol-soluble organic carbon (WSOC, MeS_OC) in a city (Ioannina, Greece) heavily impacted by RWB.

Safety of same-day discharge versus overnight stay strategy following cardiac device implantations: a high-volume single-centre experience.

Background: The strategy of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantations performed as day-case admissions has gained a wider acceptance overtime; however, data on safety are still limited. This study aims to investigate the safety of a same-day discharge protocol introduced in our hospital for the postprocedural management of patients undergoing CIED implantation.

Methods: Α prospective, non-interventional, non-randomised study performed in a single high-volume implanting centre for a 16-month period (March 2020 to June 2021).

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Oxidative Potential of Particulate Matter: Case of Athens (Greece).

This work evaluates the aerosol oxidative potential (OP) and its changes from modified air pollution emissions during the COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020, with the intent of elucidating the contribution of aerosol sources and related components to aerosol OP. For this, daily particulate matter (PM) samples at an urban background site were collected and analyzed with a chemical (acellular) assay based on Dithiothreitol (DTT) during the COVID-19 restriction period in Athens (Greece). The obtained time-series of OP, PM, organic matter (OM) and SO of the pre-, post- and lockdown periods were also compared to the data of the same time periods during the years 2017-2019.

His bundle pacing: A promising alternative strategy for anti-bradycardic pacing - report of a single-center experience.

His bundle pacing (HBP) is proven to be a safe and effective alternative pacing modality that, in addition, avoids pacemaker-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) by achieving a "physiological" ventricular stimulation, via the native conduction system. Indications include various causes of bradycardia requiring anti-bradycardic pacing, inadequately controlled atrial fibrillation requiring AV node ablation and established PICM. In addition, HBP may also be used as an alternative therapy for patients with heart failure (HF) and an indication for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Long-term brown carbon spectral characteristics in a Mediterranean city (Athens).

This study analyses 4-years of continuous 7-λ Aethalometer (AE-33) measurements in an urban-background environment of Athens, to resolve the spectral absorption coefficients (b) for black carbon (BC) and brown carbon (BrC). An important BrC contribution (23.7 ± 11.

Sources of atmospheric aerosol from long-term measurements (5 years) of chemical composition in Athens, Greece.

To identify the sources of aerosols in Greater Athens Area (GAA), a total of 1510 daily samples of fine (PM 2.5) and coarse (PM 10-2,5) aerosols were collected at a suburban site (Penteli), during a five year period (May 2008-April 2013) corresponding to the period before and during the financial crisis. In addition, aerosol sampling was also conducted in parallel at an urban site (Thissio), during specific, short-term campaigns during all seasons.