AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES IMPACT ON ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION IN URBAN AREA OF BRUSSELS/IMPACTUL ACTIVITATILOR AGRICOLE ASUPRA POLUARII ÎN ARIA URBANA A ORASULUI BRUXELLES

A possible temporal correlation between agricultural work periods in the agrarian region surrounding the city of Brussels, Belgium, and the characteristics of airborne particles measured in Brussels' urban area was investigated. In this study a total of 37 chemical elements were found in the airborne particles. During most of the wheat cropping period, high amounts of Al, Ba, Cl, Cu, Fe, S, Sb, Si, Zr, Ni and Sr were found. The elements Al, Ba, Cu, Fe, Na, Pb, Sb and Si were most prevalent during the culturing of sugar-beet and endive. For the wheat crop, the largest diversity of chemical elements was obtained during the 'after-sowing period' and the lowest diversity was recorded during the 'sowing period'. The authors' results lead to the preliminary conclusion that most of the airborne particles in Brussels' urban area are produced from outside sources, and reveals a strong correlation with specific phases of agricultural activity in the surrounding area.