Information on real-time air pollution levels is now more necessary than ever before. At present, air pollution is one of the most significant factors posing threat to the health of individuals worldwide. It is associated with a range of diseases, symptoms and conditions that impair health and quality of human life. According to WHO, outdoor air pollution was responsible for the deaths of some 3,7 million people under the age of 60 around the world in 2012, representing 6.7% of the global disease burden while indoor and outdoor air pollution combined are among the largest risks to health worldwide. Apart from habitants air quality impacts natural environment and biodiversity.
The main sources of air pollution at both countries are mainly caused by industrial activities, transportation and heating.
Air quality problems from industrial sources mainly concern areas with thermo-electrical power stations and industrial units located close to residential areas.
Natural sources (e.g. transport of dust from deserts) and conditions (e.g. local topography and climatic conditions) also worsen urban air quality. Local meteorological conditions and topography have a major impact on air quality and contribute to the generation of air pollution episodes. Air quality is then strongly influenced by pollutants trapped due to thermal inversions caused from sea/land breezes and thermal internal boundary layers.
Strategic objective of TRAP project is the creation of an ICT application integrating air quality monitoring with health impact indexes in CB area.
The project aims to evaluate current situation regarding air quality in partners’ areas, install monitoring stations and create public health indexes for assessing air quality impact on human health and natural environment.
TRAP will extend the already established network of air quality to both countries and cross-border area.
Moreover, epidemiological indicators and indicators of air quality, based on the effects of air pollution on human health, will be calculated and displayed on the project’s website in correlation with air quality. TRAP is expected to go a step beyond the current state of the art in air quality by correlating air quality and health and providing an integrated air quality – health index ICT tool which will be accessible by stakeholders and general public (volnurable target groups).
TRAP creates significant added value at CBC area by:
• New modules promoting air quality monitoring and public health.
• Safeguard human life and upgrade the level of public health
• Capacity and infrastructure building of bodies responsible for monitoring and protecting air quality and human health.
• Awareness about functioning of EU funding and EU rules.
• Stimulated communication and cooperation actions that foster common aspects and mitigate differences of the population in cross-border regions.
TRAP 