Editorial
THE EURASAP WORKSHOP ON
AIR POLLUTION & THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT:
Biological Monitoring,
Chaired by Professor J.N.B. Bell - Imperial College London
was held 25-27 April 2001 in Sofia, Bulgaria
Flora and fauna exhibit a wide range of responses to air pollution. These effects may alter biological processes, changing the physiology, morphology and behavior of exposed organisms. Sustained impacts can lead to changes in population and community structure, and thus ultimately contribute to changes in eco-system bio-diversity.
There are two research areas of interest. The first aims to protect sensitive species and ecosystems from harm, the second to use the responses to monitor the impact of air pollution. To address these issues we need to further our understanding of the fundamental sciences, particularly the cell chemistry, to establish how and why air pollution causes these effects, the severity and at what levels of exposure.
This workshop aims to establish current practice in Europe in this area influencing both the development of standards to protect sensitive flora and fauna from the effects of air pollution, and in the application of spatial and temporal biological monitoring programmes.
- How are plants affected by exposure to air pollution?
- What are the most commonly applied biological monitoring systems in use today.
- What are the protocols?
- What is their value locally and internationally?
- What are their strengths and limitations?
- Should they be incorporated into air quality management alongside physico-chemical monitoring and modeling?
Contacts scientists were:
- Ekaterina Batchvarova (EURASAP Newsletter Editor),
National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, 66 Tzarigradsko chaussee, 1784
Sofia, Bulgaria, Ekaterina.Batchvarova@meteo.bg
- Imperial College, London: Linda Davies: UK Co-ordinator, Air Pollution Research, Imperial College,TH Huxley School, RSM Building, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BP.Tel 0207 594 9295, linda.davies@ic.ac.uk