Main research activities in 2022

TFMM/Eurodelta-Carb B(a)P study

Multi-model analysis of B(a)P pollution levels in Europe is being performed as a part of the joint TFMM/EuroDelta-Carb intercomparison exercise of national experts and MSC-E. Main objectives of the study on B(a)P are to explore the model performance, analyze sources of uncertainties of modelling results, and to contribute to the refinement of B(a)P emissions from the combustion of fossil fuel and biomass burning.
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Intra-annual variations of total B(a)P air concentrations, observed at the EMEP station CZ0003R (a), and particulate B(a)P concentrations, observed at the station PL0009R (b), and the total and particulate B(a)P concentrations simulated by CHIMERE, GLEMOS, and MINNI in the base case model run for 2018.

PAH pollution: A case study for Poland

PAH pollution assessment on a national scale was continued in the framework of a country-scale study for Poland. The second phase of the study was focused on the model assessment of B(b)F, B(k)F, and I(cd)P. In particular, analysis and update of model parameterizations for these compounds was carried out. The GLEMOS model was used to evaluate previous and updated national emission inventories of these PAHs. Read more...

Mercury pollution: A case study for Norway

A detailed study of Hg pollution on a country scale was performed for Norway as a part of the Norwegian Mercury Assessment 2022 (NMA 2022). The study was carried out in close collaboration with national experts and involving detailed national data on observations and emissions. Read more...

Spatial distribution of simulated Hg deposition over the territory of Norway (left) and measured Hg concentration in moss (right) in 2015.

Cooperation with OSPAR Commission

MSC-E completed assessment of atmospheric loads of Pb, Cd and Hg to the marine regions of the North-East Atlantic under support of the OSPAR Commission. Long-term deposition trends for the period from 1990 to 2019 were calculated for each OSPAR maritime region and source-receptor relationships were estimated for 1995, 2005 and 2015. The modelling results were evaluated against observed data from the OSPAR Comprehensive Atmospheric Monitoring Programme (CAMP). It was shown that current estimates of long-term trends were comparable with the results of the previous studies. The results of this work were summarized in the Technical Report [Ilyin et al., 2022].

Contaminants of emerging concern

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) comprise a wide range of substances having potential to adversely affect wildlife and human health. Some of the CECs are receiving increasing attention in many international and national environmental organizations. Selected CECs were added to the CLRTAP POP Protocol for regulation of their production and use, namely, hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), octabromodiphenyl ether (octa-BDE), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), pentabromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). Read more...