PREVIOUS PAGE Researchers from the Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety (INRASTES) at NCSR “Demokritos” have contributed to one of the most comprehensive pan-European studies to date on the transport and impact of African dust on air quality. The study, entitled “Rising dust pollution across Europe in a changing climate,” was published in the international scientific journal Nature.
The research draws on approximately 18,500 daily measurements from 103 urban and rural locations across Europe, combined with dust-transport modelling, satellite observations and machine-learning methods. The results show that transported African dust concentrations increased across much of Europe between 2012 and 2021. Dust episodes are not necessarily becoming more frequent, but in several parts of Southern Europe they are becoming more intense. The Aegean region is among the areas showing substantial increases, while the intensity of African dust episodes reaching Athens and Thessaloniki increased by approximately 2 μg/m³ over the decade.
Manos Manousakas and Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, from the EΝvironmental Radioactivity & Aerosol technology for atmospheric and Climate impacT Lab (ENRACT) at INRASTES, participated in the study. The NCSR “Demokritos” researchers contributed scientific expertise and long-term measurement data from the Athens Urban Background Air Quality Research Station.
The publication highlights the importance of sustained atmospheric monitoring and international scientific collaboration in improving our understanding of natural sources of air pollution and their implications for air quality, climate and public health.
