We present our combined Raman/elastic backscatter lidar observations which were carried out at the EARLINET station of Thessaloniki, Greece, during the period 2001–2007. The largest optical depths are observed for Saharan dust and smoke aerosol particles. For local and continental polluted aerosols the measurements indicate high aerosol loads. However, measurements associated with the local pat...

Most considerations of global climate change caused by human activities, including the Kyoto convention (1), have focused on the warming influence of greenhouse gases (2). However, aerosols are another important atmospheric constituent that influences climate and has been affected by human activities (3, 4). Aerosol particles increase scattering and absorption of shortwave (solar) radiation (5,...

The organic fraction of secondary particles, commonly known as secondary organic aerosols (SOA), constitutes a significant part of fine aerosols. The formation of SOA is subject to complicated coupling among gas-phase chemical reactions, aqueous -phase, aerosol-phase, and meteorological processes. To correctly predict total particle concentrations in the atmosphere it is necessary to understand...

A microbiological hood was designed to reduce the danger of airborne infection of laboratory workers. The hood uses absolute filters to deliver sterile air in a laminar flow to the work area. An air curtain across the hood opening permits easy access but separates the worker from aerosols produced in the hood, and protects material inside the hood from contamination by room air. Tests with bact...

conclusions the world health organization (who) has suggested relatively relaxed limits of 100 cfu/m3 for bacteria and 50 cfu/m3 for fungi in the hospital air. therefore, quantitative and qualitative outcomes of this study demonstrate that contamination level and bacterial variety in surgery rooms and emergency departments is high and effective measures must be taken to control the possible hea...

Cloud cycling plays a key role in the evolution of atmospheric particles and gases, producing secondary aerosol mass transforming optical properties impacts aerosols globally.

Airborne contaminants occur in the gaseous form (gases and vapours) or as aerosols. Aerosols may exist in the form of airborne dusts, sprays, mists, smokes and fumes. In the occupational setting, all these forms may be important because they relate to a wide range of occupational diseases. Airborne dusts are of particular concern because they are well known to be associated with classical wides...

Particle collisions are a common occurrence in the atmosphere, but no empirical observations exist to fully predict the potential effects of these collisions on air quality and climate projections. The current consensus of heterogeneous crystal nucleation pathways relevant to the atmosphere dictates that collisions with amorphous particles have no effect on the crystallization relative humidity...