Air pollution database to combat smog in Asia

Scientists from the Asia-Pacific region have created an air pollution database in a bid to address growing levels of smog and deteriorating air quality that is impacting the health of millions of people.

The Asia Pacific Aerosol Database (A-PAD) project collected data samples over ten years that is now informing environmental policies, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Asia-Pacific states signed a regional cooperative agreement in 1996, under guidance from the IAEA, to address air pollution.

Andreas Karydas of the IAEA said: “A large number of people in Asia, particularly those living in megacities, are exposed to high levels of air particulate matter from people-made sources. Small-city residents too are at risk because industrial activities and coal-fired power plants can cause massive health and environmental problems.”

The IAEA trained scientists since 2005 in Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Vietnam to measure air pollution.

Karydas added: “The capabilities they developed have supported air quality improvement. For example, scientists in Indonesia have identified lead pollution sources in Surabaya and Serpong.”

Officials in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mongolia and the Philippines have also used the database to assess and revise air quality regulations.

Nuclear techniques used as part of the project involve particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) to analyses particulate matters by exposing air samples to an ion beam.

Using PIXE, the cause of specific cases of air pollution can be identified and tracked to vehicles, forest fires, industry or natural phenomena such as volcanic activity.