Identifying and classifying zones and agglomerations

Edward RoekensFlemish Environmental Agency

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Method of zonation 2004

• Methodology followed • Long time-series of measurement data for

SO2, NOx, and Pb (from 1978) and for PM10 (from 1996)

• Principals• To determine the agglomerations and zones

with an important number of citizens: quantity in combination with population density

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Principles of zonation

• Principals• Areas with similar air quality are grouped in 1 zone

(e.g. 10 urban zones in Flanders with more than 50.000 inhabitants but less than 250.000) have the same ozone, NOx, and PM10 issues

• Usually the zones are determined independent from the pollutant, but exceptions are possible (e.g. local influences of industrial activities: SO2 in Wezel

• Present and future strategies of monitoring networkand derived design

Air quality zones in Belgium

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Zonation SO2, NO2, PM10, Pb

Code zone Zone Area (km²) Inhabitants

BEF01S Antwerp harbour

222 50 000

BEF02A Antwerp agglomeration

174 550 000

BEF03S Ghent canal zone

117 45 000

BEF04A Ghent agglomeration

136 370 000

BEF05S Cities > 50000 inhabitants

786 750 000

BEF06S Rest of Flanders 12.126 4 250 000

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Zonation, 1st Daughter Directive

All pollutant zones• Agglomeration Antwerp and Ghent >250 000

inhabitants• Cities > 50 000 inhabitants• Large industrial zones: Antwerp harbour, Ghent

(canal zone)• Rest of Flanders

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Zonation, 1st Daughter Directive

• One polluent zones• Lommel: SO2 non-ferrous • Beerse: Pb non-ferrous• Hoboken: Pb non-ferrous

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Zonation CO, benzene, ozone, PAHs

All polluant zones• Agglomeration Antwerp an Ghent >250 000

inhabitants• Cities > 50 000 inhabitants• Big industrials zones: Antwerp harbour, Ghent

(canal zone)• Rest of Flanders

Or simplified zonation: see blue (BEF19S)

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Zonation heavy metals

Zonation for Pb, As, Cd and Ni zones• Agglomeration Antwerp and Ghent >250 000

inhabitants• Large industrial zones:

• Antwerp harbour: refineries• Ghent steel industry

• Rest of FlandersMicrozones

• Hoboken: (Pb), As, Cd• Beerse: Pb, As, Cd• Genk: Ni, (Cd)

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Vegetation and natural ecosystem

20 km from agglomerations5 km away from other important sources

No such places in Flanders

However critical levelsSO2 20 µg/m³NOx 30 µg/m³

Respected on sample sites of acid deposition network

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Supplementary methods of zonation

• Models

• Indicative measurements: e.g. passive samplers

• Emission inventory

• Expert knowledge

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Overview of the Belgian zones

Code Naam Type Polluenten Opp Aantal inwoners(km²) ruwe schatting

BEFL001A Antwerpse haven nonag Alle 222 50 000BEFL002A Antwerpen ag Alle 174 550 000BEFL003A Gentse Kanaalzone nonag Alle 117 45 000BEFL004A Gent ag Alle 136 370 000BEFL005A Steden > 50.000 nonag Alle 786 750 000BEFL006A Vlaanderen nonag Alle 12 126 4 250 000BEFL007S Hoboken nonag Lood 0,19 3000BEFL008S Beerse nonag Lood 1,4 250BEFL009S Lommel nonag Zwaveldioxide 103 31 000

BEBR010A Brussel ag Alle 161 950 000AlleBEWA011A Liége ag Alle 248 423 673BEWA012A Engis nonag Alle 49 12 544BEWA013A Charleroi ag Alle 168 303 057BEWA014A Wallonië nonag Alle 16 687 2 722 420België 32 545 10 213 752