Proceedings of Clima 2007 WellBeing Indoors Particulate matter levels in Portugal (mainland and islands). A preliminary study for outdoor/indoor environment in basic schools. Issmat R. Khan1, Maria do Carmo Freitas1, Adriano M.G. Pacheco2 1Reactor-ITN, Technological and Nuclear Institute, E.N. 10, 2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal 2CERENA-IST, Technical University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal Corresponding email:
[email protected] SUMMARY This study deals with Particle Matter (PM) levels below 2.5 µm (PM2.5) in Portugal and shows that US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) directive is exceeded in a few places. PM2.5 total mass concentration measured in several places located in Portugal mainland and islands and the outskirts are quite well correlated for a few sites. Results show that it is important to determine the elemental composition of PM2.5, and to develop an epidemiological study in Portugal to find a possible association between PM2.5 levels, sources and morbidity/mortality. However, the results imply that a source-oriented evaluation of PM health effects needs to take into account the uncertainty associated with the spatial representativity of the species measured at a few sampling stations. For that purpose the survey using biomonitors may contribute positively. INTRODUCTION Several reports revealed significant correlations between PM levels and increased respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and mortality [1]. Understanding and controlling air pollution becomes then important but difficult, because the emission inventories and transport models are problematic in the evaluation of particulate atmospheric pollution. In South European regions, such as Portugal, in addition to anthropogenic sources, the ambient aerosol has an important contribution from natural dust, due to local emissions from bare soil, and an influence of episodic African dust transport outbreaks [2].