Environmental Nanoparticle measurement in air

Particulate matter is the predominant cause of health effects from ambient air, though the specific factors that affect health are not yet clear: nanoparticles will be discussed in an NPL June meeting

Environmental Nanoparticles: Exploring the links between vehicle emissions and ambient air is the title of an NPL conference to be held on Wednesday 8th June 2005 at the Ballacraine Suite, in the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham.

Particulate matter is the predominant cause of health effects from ambient air in the UK, though the specific factors that affect health are not yet clear.

One possibility is that the smallest sized particles have a disproportionate effect, so that particle numbers are a more useful parameter than particle mass.

Typically, particles below 100 nm in size are called ultrafine particles, while those below 50 nm are called nanoparticles.

In recent years the EU has discussed regulating nanoparticle emissions from vehicle engines, and the UK government is undertaking long term monitoring of nanoparticles in ambient air.

This has brought new challenges in the science of particle formation and transport, and in the techniques used to measure them.

The need for robust and comparable measurement methods for both environmental and manufactured nanoparticles was highlighted in the recent Royal Society Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies report.

This event, organised by the National Physical Laboratory and the Royal Society of Chemistry, will bring together those working with both vehicle and ambient air nanoparticles to discuss measurement advances.

Regulators, scientists, and instrument manufacturers in these fields should all attend.

Speakers include: Prof Roy Harrison from Birmingham University, Jon Andersson of Ricardo Consulting Engineers, Wolfram Birmili, Leipzig Institute for Tropospheric Research and Ian Marshall, AEA Technology.

There will also be an equipment exhibition.

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