Development of an APP as alert system for severe air pollution episodes

Abstract

TPS 641: Policies, interventions, communication, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 28, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background/Aim: Severe Air Pollution Episodes (SAPE) are often observed in areas in Europe where high anthropic pressure (e.g. highly populated urban areas with a high traffic load) and emission levels in combination with meteorological air stagnation can increase air pollution concentrations above EU limits for several consecutive days. Methods: The Interreg Central Europe AWAIR project (“EnvironmentAl integrated, multilevel knoWledge and approaches to counteract critical AIR pollution events, improving vulnerable citizens quality of life in Central Europe Functional Urban Areas”) addresses the issue of air quality, specifically SAPEs, in three functional urban areas: The city of Parma, Italy; Zugló in the Budapest metropolitan area, Hungary and Katowice in the Upper Silesia Metropolitan Area, Poland. Within this project we are going to develop a joint forecasting system for SAPEs that is linked to an APP for mobile devices to alert citizens and give advice for individual adaptation and mitigation measures. Results: While a joint forecasting system is planned, each area will have their own individual limits for triggering alerts to account for varying characteristics such as regional meteorology or alert regulations and air pollution levels. Susceptible subgroups e.g. children or asthmatics will get specially tailored advice. In addition, mitigation measures will be promoted such as the use of public transport or refraining from using small scale furnaces. Also, local political actions for example driving bans or free use of public transport can be disseminated via the APP. Conclusions: Through the alert system the AWAIR APP can contribute not only to better health by informing (susceptible) individuals about the best behaviour in case of SAPEs but ideally also to decrease the length and severity of a SAPE.