Aerosols - ISSeP

Thursday 21 November 2024, 8.00 pm–10.00 pm
At Val Benoît, Quai Banning 6, 4000 Liège
Main Civil Engineering Building, MILLAU Room
Free car park 2 (not P1 or P3) (access to the free car park via the roundabout on Rue Marie Curie)
View the presentation of the results for Liège here

Click here for a map

Background

In December 2022, the Minister for the Environment, Céline Tellier, commissioned the ISSeP, in collaboration with the non-profit organisation Eco-Impact, to set up a pilot project to monitor the potential impacts of atmospheric emissions generated by the activities of the two Walloon airports.

Environmental impacts of airports

Airports have environmental impacts, particularly through the production of air pollutants. During take-off and landing, aircraft emit pollutants which, depending on local conditions, may be dispersed to a greater or lesser extent beyond the airport perimeter. However, once a certain altitude is reached, and due to turbulence caused by the aircraft, the pollutants are widely dispersed and their deposition can no longer be distinguished from the background levels of other pollution sources (notably road traffic). This is why the scope of the study is primarily focused on the flight path in the vicinity of the airport and corresponds to the noise contours.

The Aéro-Sols study aims, in a fully independent and transparent manner, to carry out measurements to ascertain the true extent of pollution levels around Liège (Bierset) and Charleroi airports. The numerous studies carried out elsewhere do not always reach the same conclusions regarding the environmental impact of airports. Indeed, some studies show a very significant effect, whilst others have found no greater impact than that caused by urban centres or motorways.

However, scientists are unanimous regarding the operations responsible for the pollution and the list of pollutants likely to be emitted.

Aim of the study

To measure the concentrations of three types of pollutants in atmospheric fallout around the two Walloon airports in order to assess the environmental impact of operations at Charleroi and Liège (Bierset) airports.

To involve volunteer members of the public at every stage of the selected experimental protocols, to ensure the transparency of the process.

Methodology

We will use two sampling techniques.

Funnel-tipped samplers to collect dust from atmospheric fallout. Sampling will take place over one year, with samples collected every 28 days.
Active biomonitoring systems using grasses to capture pollutants in the air and in dust. These plants will be exposed for two cycles, each lasting six weeks (summer 2023 and autumn 2023).

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The monitoring stations will be installed in the gardens of participating local residents.

Measurements from stations near airports will be compared with those taken at reference points located in a similar environment but outside the presumed impact zone, as well as with reference values.

Substances under investigation

For this project, the substances under investigation are:

Heavy metals: Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): 16 EPA
Hydrocarbons: C5–C11 and C10–C40 fractions

Conditions for participation

Live within the study area. See maps below.

Have a garden or courtyard:

With a flat surface and accessible from the street;
Measuring at least 10m by 10m;
Which is not surrounded by high walls or buildings.

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Partner

Eco-Impact (non-profit organisation)

Eco-Impact is a network of experts dedicated to the environment and public health. Keen to establish the link between health and the environment, Eco-Impact is developing a new, responsible approach to environmental surveillance and monitoring, notably through the use of biosurveillance – that is, the use of living indicators such as bees, mosses, lichens, cabbages and earthworms to assess environmental quality or its deterioration.

Contacts

For further information before, during or after the study, please contact us:

Sophie Crevecoeur and Caroline Thiry (ISSeP)

ISSeP – Environment and Health Unit, 200 Rue du Chéra – 4000 Liège

Email: aero-sols@issep.be

Marie Cors (Eco-Impact)

Mobile: 0497/11 83 35

Email: marie.cors@eco-impact.be