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Description
The aim of the project is to carry out mobile monitoring of air quality and create action plans in the area of the Czech-Polish border, which has specific conditions and sources of pollution due to the local relief. Polish municipalities will also take part in the project.
Summary of project results
The project was designed to create a tool for improving air quality in our region, which consistently ranks among the worst in Europe. Residents have repeatedly raised concerns about air pollution and its harmful effects on health. The monitored pollutants frequently exceed the legal limits for air protection, and these limits are expected to become stricter in the future. However, current monitoring efforts lack sufficient coverage and sometimes fail to accurately identify the sources of pollution. The project employed advanced methods to pinpoint specific pollution sources, allowing for better regulation and control.
The action plan outlines a set of targeted, clear measures tailored to the needs of the monitored municipality. These actions are practical, economically viable, and take into account the municipality’s resources. The plan''s main objective is to direct future funding toward effective initiatives, such as green infrastructure, transportation improvements, replacing outdated fuel and boilers, and promoting sustainable energy use. This aligns with broader trends toward cleaner energy and reducing carbon emissions. Since the action plan has been approved by local authorities, it will be easier to secure future grants. In fact, two projects have already received funding for green initiatives thanks to these action plans.
For the project''s initiation, thorough research on the region, its sources, and discussions with representatives from the Moravian-Silesian Region were essential. They had dealt with a similar project called KAPOO covering the entire region. Seven municipalities on the Czech-Polish border participated in the project, selecting approximately five sites in each area. A total of 30 sites along the border were effectively monitored. Air monitoring focused on PMx, NO/NO2, and organic compounds, alongside meteorological conditions such as temperature, pressure, wind, and humidity. Continuous monitoring was conducted using reference techniques prescribed by EU directives, similar to those used by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute in their monitoring network. Each site was monitored for 30 days (uninterrupted) before relocating the measuring system. At the peak of monitoring, six systems were deployed simultaneously. Return visits to each site allowed measurements under various seasonal conditions, spanning almost a year and a half. Simultaneously, colleagues visited municipal offices to identify local air pollution concerns. Subsequently, results were evaluated using a method led by Professor Raclavská from VŠB, involving the identification of pollution sources based on the composition of dust samples containing over 400 organic compounds. The knowledge of the dust sample composition the enabled us to match the composition to a specific pollution source. This phase, critical to the project, revealed transportation as a significant air pollution source, along with issues related to solid fuel combustion and the increasing use of biomass burning. Identified were traffic congestion points, cross-border effects of burning low-quality fuels in boilers, and issues with local industrial sources. While average PMx and NO/NO2 results could be called somewhat optimistic, as of now the improvement remains insufficient. The Benzo(a)pyrene data is a significant concern, since in some cases it surpassed the annual limit concentration by over tenfold within a 24-hour period. This is primarily associated with local heating plants. Understanding the causes of air pollution enables targeted investments in its mitigation, aiming to provide the most effective solutions possible.
The main project output comprises of 7 Action Plans for the municipalities of Karviná, Český Těšín, Bystřice, Vendryně, Petrovice u Karviné, Ropice and Bolatice. The report includes numerical measurement data, source identification, and a list of potential actions/measures. Air quality monitoring revealed very good air quality in the communities of Vendryně and Bystřice, "average - typically urban" quality in Karviná and Český Těšín, and very poor quality in Ropice and Bolatice. Despite the excellent air quality in the Beskydy municipalities of Vendryně and Bystřice, transportation (25%) and coal combustion (25%) emerge as significant contributors. In Karviná and Český Těšín, the share of transportation is increased (30-40%), with coal burning reaching up to over 50% in the town outskirts during winter. Ropice faces industrial pollution issues, with two major sites for fugitive dust emissions nearby, containing significant metal concentrations. A conversation about these findings is necessarry, which was initiated by our monitoring. In Bolatice, we found a significant influence from domestic boiler burning (local heat plants), that were not only local but also from nearby Polish sources,The benzo(a)pyrene concentrations were very high - exceeding 10 ng/m3. Measured PM10 concentrations of all municipalities range between 15-25 ug/m3, that is approximately 50% of the current annual limit and around the expected limit planned from 2030. The most concerning finding pertains to benzo(a)pyrene, although not measured strictly and periodicly throughout the year, the recurring peaks indicate a persistent issue with local heating. The project underwent public consultation, with a communication plan providing regular updates on results and health impact. Consequently, the project served an additional educational purpose, with municipalities intending to utilize the findings to support heating eco-friendly initiatives. Some municipalities procured sensor technology through the Svalbard projects, monitoring the pollution from local heating, enabling the identification and targeting the major contributors within the municipality. The call „Svalbard“ followed the call „TROMSO“ in which the project AIRP''s was implemented. In 2023, the call „Stavanger“ was announced and 2 municipalities from the AIRP''s project sucessfully applied, inplementing their green projects. This all can lead to a conclusion that innitial follow-up projects based on the Action Plans are already emerging.
Air quality remains a crucial concern for our citizens, prompting our public administration to prioritize its protection. The AIRP''s project aimed to develop viable actions/measures supported by measured data. This approach is highly sought after because measurements without real-life impact are ineffective and worthless. Municipalities generally acknowledge the need to address particulate matter, but awareness about the significance of benzo(a)pyrene is limited, and despite their local knowledge, they struggle to identify major contributors effectively. Simply put, mere measurement without action is no longer sufficient. The Action Plan provides specific guidance on utilizing municipal funds and serves as a professional argument for obtaining grants. Its scope ranges widely from greenery care and road cleaning to transportation infrastructure and energy initiatives. These Action Plans serve as a reservoir for many years and are apolitical, meaning they are essential for every municipal administration. Given the complexity, interventions in energy and transportation are planned for decades, while actions like regular road cleaning or greenery maintenance can be implemented immediately. Some measures necessitate communication between the municipality and the source, which also takes time. Thus, the Action Plans have laid out air protection work for over a decade, crucial considering the approaching changes in legislation under the EU''s Green Deal by 2030. Without sufficient preparedness, achieving positive health impacts through significant changes will be near impossible. It is very unfortunate that the entire public administration isn''t systematically addressed, as issues can arise even in areas currently appearing satisfactory. The prepared Action Plans and implemented methodology can be applied beyond municipalities supported by the AIRP''s project. Furthermore, the project well aligns with the Moravian-Silesian Region project „KAPOO“.