PM10 concentrations in the urban area of Thessaloniki, Greece

This study reports systematic ambient PM10 measurements at the Municipal Air Quality Network of Thessaloniki, from 1989 to 2000. PM10 concentrations were measured by two different methods, the beta-gauge principle and the tapered element oscillating microbalance method. The correlation between the two daily PM10 concentrations (derived from the above two methods) was very good, at the commercial city center. The measurements show a significant decrease in the PM10 concentrations throughout the entire reference period, while pollution roses appear to be a factor that helps to explain short-term variables in airborne particulate concentrations. The daily relative frequency distribution of PM10 concentrations show that the proposed mean daily air quality standard of the European Union is considerably exceeded, in the urban area of the city.