Air pollution exposure indicator for Greece

The European Environment Agency (EEA) calculates the air pollution exposure indicator (CSI 004) for Greece using data from only one monitoring station, which is located in Athens. The present work presents an alternative approach for calculating such an indicator. This new approach is based on data from several monitoring stations in the metropolitan areas of Athens and Thessaloniki and takes into account the population living within a particular monitoring district. The assessment focuses on particulate matter (PM(10)), nitrogen dioxide and ozone for the period from 2001-2008. Comparisons between exposures estimated by the current procedure and those estimated by the EEA methodology indicate that the latter procedure can produce large over-estimates of exposure. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.