PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The project assessed and evaluated the effects of air pollution in twelve cities in eight countries, using bioindicator plants. On the basis of prior knowledge of the air pollution situation in urban areas, the following bioindication methods were selected for the project: - Tobacco strain Bel-W3 and poplar clones (sensitive to ozone) - Italian rye grass (accumulation of sulphur, heavy metals and trace elements) - Curly kale (accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) - Tradescantia (sensitive to genotoxic substances). In each of the cities, eight to ten bioindicator stations, including one to two reference sites with less air pollution, were installed. The indicator plants, apart from Tradescantia, were cultivated by local staff in the cities according to standard protocols. Tradescantia was cultivated at the University of Hohenheim. Exposure of the indicator plants, assessment of visible symptoms and microscopic and chemical analyses were performed according to guidelines elaborated by the project co-ordination. The bioindication programme was accompanied by publicity campaigns run by the municipal partners. For project follow-up, an advisory board was installed. The activities of phase 1 (10/99 - 04/00) were: - Development of manuals for plant cultivation, exposure and effect assessment - Selection of exposure sites and installation - Acquisition of equipment and materials - Development of a communication concept - Organisation of a technical workshop. Phase 2 (04/00 - 12/02) comprised: - Exposure of the indicator plants during three growing seasons - Assessment and evaluation of pollution-induced effects including symptomatological, microscopic and chemical analyses. - Municipal publicity campaigns. - Organisation of the first conference of project partners. The tasks of phase 3 (04/02 - 12/02) were: - Final evaluation and interpretation of results - Preparation of final reports - Organisation of the second conference Air pollution represents one of the major environmental problems in urban areas in spite of the progress made in reducing emissions. The project assessed and evaluated air pollution effects in twelve cities in eight countries of the European Union (A, D, DK, E, F, GB, GR, I) using bioindicator plants. The University of Hohenheim was responsible for the scientific, technical and administrative co-ordination of the project. The partners of the university were the cities of Copenhagen, Dietzingen, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Glyfada, Klagenfurt, Sheffield, Valencia and Verona, Greater Lyon, Greater Nancy and the Generalitat de Catalunya (Barcelona). They were in charge of the implementation of the local bioindication programmes.
OBJECTIVES
The aims of the project were: - to establish the use of bioindicator plants as a means to assess and evaluate air quality on a European level with standardised methods - to facilitate the transfer of technical know-how and scientific knowledge - to promote the standardisation of bioindication methods on a European level - to create a database on the effects of air pollution in European cities - to analyse and evaluate air quality - to allow for the comparison of air pollution characteristics of different cities - to provide data for measures to improve air quality - to create a network of cities concerned about their air quality beyond the duration of the project - to raise the awareness of the urban population with regard to air quality - to contribute to environmental education whilst considering the differences in environmental perception of different regions and countries. The scientific objectives of the project were: - Establishing the use of bioindicator plants at European level - Standardisation of methods - Transfer of expertise and knowledge - Analysis and evaluation of air quality - Comparison of pollution types in different cities and regions The communication objectives were: - Demonstration of air pollution effects on living organisms - Educating the population - Initiatives in schools, companies and private households - Urban marketing
RESULTS
The main results achieved were: · A handbook describing the methodology of cultivating bioindicator plants was prepared for all partner cities · More than 100 stations were installed and in use during three vegetation periods · Analysis of the bioindicator plants and evaluation and assessment of the results · Detailed documentation of the results and presentation on the project website · Development of a communication concept · Preparation and distribution of dissemination materials These results correspond to the initially stated objectives. Despite initial problems with some partner cities the project was able to meet all the requirements, was very well managed and very successful in terms of dissemination. In particular, the involvement of local schools in the cities of Dietzingen (D), Valencia (E) and Verona (I) in pilot projects stimulated the environmental awareness of children and teenagers. The most important benefits of the project were: - Local authorities are able to set up an environmental monitoring system and implement the system by the cultivation and exposure of bioindicator plants according to standardised methods. The results of three vegetation periods have been evaluated and assessed by the beneficiary and are available on the project website for the interested public. The project showed that city administrations can deal with scientific and technical aspects of an environmental problem and can cooperate at the European level. - Intensive and continuous public awareness activities raised the profile of air pollution problems, addressed a broad public and educated the population about environmental issues. . According to a follow-up report compiled in 2005 by the LIFE external monitoring team, the EuroBionet team succeeded in setting up 100 monitoring stations in the partner cities, and in building a network of cities – ranging from Edinburgh in Scotland to Glyfada in Greece – that are concerned about air quality and committed to raising awareness of the issues at stake by hosting regular information events and publicity campaigns. After the project closed, the project team released a detailed manual so that other countries and regions could transfer the methods for their own use. (This information was subsequently used by the East Hungarian Bio-monitoring Network for the basis of another LIFE project – (LIFE00 ENV/H/000936).The main results achieved were: · A handbook describing the methodology of cultivating bioindicator plants was prepared for all partner cities · More than 100 stations were installed and in use during three vegetation periods · Analysis of the bioindicator plants and evaluation and assessment of the results · Detailed documentation of the results and presentation on the project website · Development of a communication concept · Preparation and distribution of dissemination materials These results correspond to the initially stated objectives. Despite initial problems with some partner cities the project was able to meet all the requirements, was very well managed and very successful in terms of dissemination. In particular, the involvement of local schools in the cities of Dietzingen (D), Valencia (E) and Verona (I) in pilot projects stimulated the environmental awareness of children and teenagers. The most important benefits of the project were: - Local authorities are able to set up an environmental monitoring system and implement the system by the cultivation and exposure of bioindicator plants according to standardised methods. The results of three vegetation periods have been evaluated and assessed by the beneficiary and are available on the project website for the interested public. The project showed that city administrations can deal with scientific and technical aspects of an environmental problem and can cooperate at the European level. - Intensive and continuous public awareness activities raised the profile of air pollution problems, addressed a broad public and educated the population about environmental issues. . According to a follow-up report compiled in 2005 by the LIFE external monitoring team, the EuroBionet team succeeded in setting up 100 monitoring stations in the partner cities, and in building a network of cities – ranging from Edinburgh in Scotland to Glyfada in Greece – that are concerned about air quality and committed to raising awareness of the issues at stake by hosting regular information events and publicity campaigns. After the project closed, the project team released a detailed manual so that other countries and regions could transfer the methods for their own use. (This information was subsequently used by the East Hungarian Bio-monitoring Network for the basis of another LIFE project – (LIFE00 ENV/H/000936).
