G. Loupa

Potential effects of particulate matter from combustion during services on human health and on works of art in medieval churches in Cyprus

Indoor and outdoor particulate matter (PM0.3-10) number concentrations were established in two medieval churches in Cyprus. In both churches incense was burnt occasionally during Mass. The highest indoor PM0.5-1 concentrations compared with outdoors (10.7 times higher) were observed in the church that burning of candles indoors was allowed. Peak indoor black carbon concentration was 6.8 microg m(-3) in the instances that incense was burning and 13.4 microg m(-3) in the instances that the candles were burning (outdoor levels ranged between 0.6 and 1.3 microg m(-3)). From the water soluble inorganic components determined in PM10, calcium prevailed in all samples indoors or outdoors, whilst high potassium concentration indoors were a clear marker of combustion. Indoor sources of PM were clearly identified and their emission strengths were estimated via modeling of the results. Indoor estimated PM0.3-10 mass concentrations exceeded air quality standards for human health protection and for the preservation of works of art.

Indoor-Outdoor Atmospheric Particulate Matter Relationships in Naturally Ventilated Offices

Atmospheric particle size distribution and number concentrations were investigated in three naturally ventilated offices and outdoors. The offices were located in a University suburban campus in newly constructed, one-storey buildings. Measurements were conducted with a laser optical particle counter. Synoptic meteorological data, for the duration of the experiment, were obtained from the NOAA satellite data archive. The indoor to outdoor averaged number concentration ratios in the offices during working hours were in the range of 0.35-14.68. Construction activities in the vicinity of one office had a pronounced effect on the indoor number concentrations of particulate matter (PM). Indoor sources were traced to the movement of people, computer operation and environmental tobacco smoke. Re-suspension, appears to contribute to the number concentrations of PM, over all size ranges. Meteorological conditions with respect to office orientation also had a significant impact on indoor PM number concentrations.

Vertical Energy and Momentum Fluxes in the Centre of Athens, Greece During a Heatwave Period (Thermopolis 2009 Campaign)

The atmospheric energy budget in the centre of Athens, Greece was determined during the Thermopolis 2009 campaign in order to investigate the development of the urban heat island. Heatwaves during summer are a common occurrence in this large conurbation. Micrometeorological data from a tower were acquired in a densely built central district, and net all-wave radiation, sensible heat, latent heat and momentum flux densities were derived by the eddy-covariance method and also estimated using Monin–Obukhov similarity relationships. Under the prevailing hot and dry conditions, sensible heat-flux density was on average five times larger than the latent heat-flux density. The anthropogenic contribution to the energy budget was also determined on the basis of the acquired data.

A comparison of fragrance ingredients in green and nongreen detergents

ABSTRACT Six green (certified with EU Ecolabel), six nongreen household detergents, and two products for professional cleaning were examined for fragrance compounds by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The examined detergents are products from multinational companies and best sellers in the Greek market. Only one fragrance ingredient was found in the products for professional applications compared with the 35 in the nongreen products and the 23 ingredients found in green products. Seven ingredients were the same between green and nongreen products. Fragrances are important for marketing purposes but may threaten human health and the environment.

Energy flux parametrization as an opportunity to get Urban Heat Island insights: The case of Athens, Greece (Thermopolis 2009 Campaign).

Energy flux parameterization was effected for the city of Athens, Greece, by utilizing two approaches, the Local-Scale Urban Meteorological Parameterization Scheme (LUMPS) and the Bulk Approach (BA). In situ acquired data are used to validate the algorithms of these schemes and derive coefficients applicable to the study area. Model results from these corrected algorithms are compared with literature results for coefficients applicable to other cities and their varying construction materials. Asphalt and concrete surfaces, canyons and anthropogenic heat releases were found to be the key characteristics of the city center that sustain the elevated surface and air temperatures, under hot, sunny and dry weather, during the Mediterranean summer. A relationship between storage heat flux plus anthropogenic energy flux and temperatures (surface and lower atmosphere) is presented, that results in understanding of the interplay between temperatures, anthropogenic energy releases and the city characteristics under the Urban Heat Island conditions.

Mapping the noise in a Greek general hospital

Sound pressure levels were monitored in a general hospital, in Greece, at ten indoor locations and at three outdoor locations, in the yard of the building. The selected indoor locations are representative of distinct activities that are common in every hospital, such as the emergency department, patient wards and several supporting services, like washing the clothes or the dishes. Noise levels were highly variable in each monitoring location and depended on the activities in the room, such as conversations, medical equipment in use, analytical devices or other machinery in operation. The highest noise levels that were recorded were in the blood donation unit and in the laundry room (the L10,8h was 73 and 79 dB(A) respectively), mainly due to the opening/closing of the metal lids of garbage bins in the first location and due to the wringing of the clothes in the second. Indoor background noise levels i.e. the L95,8h values, were more than 55 dB(A) and higher than the respective outdoor values (except of the L95,8h in one ward of the paediatric ward). The calculated average LEX, 8h was 69.3 dB(A), below the European Union lower exposure action limit value, i.e. 87 dB(A), that was set to prevent hearing loss of the employees. However, noise levels in the wards, in the emergency and the outpatient department were above the values suggested by international guidelines for a healing environment. Sound spectra revealed peaks in frequencies that were representative of the sources of the noise and also the presence of low frequency noise components.