Description
The project is based on an analysis of current priorities identified in a number of European as well as national strategic documents, in particular in relation to the persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These strategies clearly indicate the need to analyze long-term trends in the concentrations of these substances in the environment and in human tissues for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the measures taken. The main objective of the project is to strengthen the implementation of environmental monitoring programs as regards the overall improvement of the quality and comparability of data on levels of POPs in the air collected in global databases and enabling a high quality analysis of their long-term trends. The aim of the presented project is to promote a better interpretation of globally available data on air contamination by POPs and a more accurate analysis of their long-term trends. Meeting specific objectives will contribute to this, in particular the identification of uncertainties stemming from the compilation of data coming from various sources, more accurate interpretation of the results of passive sampling networks and analysis of their comparability with conventional methods for the purposes of the collective interpretation of trends, and also new ways of analysis, presentation and interpretation of results usable for professional user community as well as the general public. The project is aimed towards the professional community as well as the general public. The important contribution of the project is the development of bilateral cooperation between the applicant and Donor project partner (Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Norway). This cooperation will lead to strengthening of the research capacity as well as managerial competencies of researchers from both institutions, improvement of international mobility and increase in their potential for implementation of joint international projects in the future.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to support the interpretation of globally available data on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and more accurate analysis of their long-term trends. In order to achieve this goal, there were - identified the uncertainties stemming from the compilation of data from different sources, - interpreted results of passive sampling networks and analysed their comparability with conventional methods for the common interpretation of trends, - discovered new ways of analysing, presenting and interpreting results that are applicable to the professional community of users and the general public. All new information found within the project solution was published in international journals. These findings were implemented in two portals:
www.genasis.cz and
www.pops-gmp.org which connect the POPs data in the atmosphere of two important public portals (GENASIS and EBAS). The project contributed to achieving the outputs of the program (Enhanced Implementation of Environmental Monitoring Programs) and meeting its overall results (Improving Environmental Information on Impact, Condition and Trends). The main contribution of the project to enhancing the implementation of environmental monitoring programs was the overall improvement of the quality and comparability of data on POPs levels in the air collected in global databases and the provision of quality analysis of their long-term trends. This will allow a responsible interpretation of these long-term parameters towards the professional community and the general public. Improved data quality has also been reflected in the quality of environmental and health risk analyses.
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership in the project was based on the long-term cooperation of both partners, the joint expertise of the involved experts, the existing capacities of the accredited trace laboratories of the applicant and, in particular, the existence of two significant data sources: the GENASIS system administered by the final receiver's (MU) workplace and the NILU (the Norwegian partner) . The main contribution of the Norwegian partner was primarily the exchange and sharing of existing data from active (EMEP - NILU) and passive (MONET - MU) air monitoring in Europe. The data is now stored in the GENASIS database and will be technically very easy to provide to the DWH-GMP in 2019 that is the year when the data collection for the third GMP wave will start. In the future, the final receiver and the partner are planning to exchange additional data that will be measured in the years to come. The project also produced three studies and three important publications where both partners were involved. The output of the project was to strengthen the implementation of environmental monitoring programs and to improve environmental awareness of impacts, conditions and trends. During the project's project, 15 applicant's (MU) and 4 partner (NILU) staff were employed on the project.