Period: 2020-2021.

Project Leader at NIMH: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Blagorodka Veleva

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, Vienna) Technical Assistance Research Project for Countries in the Europe Region

This project is the result of the cooperation of an international team from 19 countries in Europe and Asia. The objective of the study is to characterize the chemical composition of fine dust particles up to 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in urban areas, using nuclear and other analytical methods. In Bulgaria the sampling station is located on the site of NIMH  -  the Central Meteorological Station in Sofia. For one year filter samples are collected according to a standardized methodology. The filters are measured for the average daily mass concentration, for the carbon content with a procedure for analysis of BC / BrC in PM2.5 with the MABI instrument. EDXRF analysis for element content in filter samples will be performed in an accredited laboratory in one of the participating countries. The main goal of the project is to study the contribution of sources of pollution to the mass concentration of PM2.5 by applying receptor models.