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This work presents information regarding PM10, PM2.5, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and trace elements that were obtained from two sampling stations, located in the region of Western Macedonia (North-Western Greece), over the course of a 12-month period. Τhe first sampling station was located near the village of Pontokomi (Station 1) and the second (Station 2) in the rural area of Petrana (Fig 1). Specifically, for each location, daily particulate samples PM10 (total 58 samples) and PM2.5 (total 64 samples) were collected. Moreover, and again for each location, 50 samples (22 PM10 and 28 PM2.5) were further analyzed for the determination of 15 (PAHs) and 72 samples (36 PM10 and 36 PM2.5) were further analyzed for the determination of a total of 17 trace elements. Thus, a total of approximately 10 samples per month was obtained from each sampling station (122 samples per sampling station over the course of 12 months). The samples were collected using two low volume samplers, LVS 3.1 and PNS16T-3.1 (Comde-Derenda GmbH). Trace elements were trapped using 47 mm glass fiber filters and were recovered using microwave extraction; for their determination, the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) technique was utilized. The PAHs were trapped with 47 mm quartz fiber filters and were analyzed using dichloromethane extraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.This region of Western Macedonia has historically been the center of electricity production in Greece. Lignite is mined in open-cast mines and used as feed in a number of thermal power plants. At its peak, which was in the 1990’s, the areas produced close to 70% of electricity in Greece. Since then, electricity production (and related activities) are in decline as, due to Greece's EU commitments, the region has entered a transition, post-lignite process.

This manuscript presents the concentrations of inhalable suspended particles with diameter less than 10 µm (PM10) in the region of west Macedonia, Greece, from a total of nine locations, from 2010 to 2020. This region, the only landlocked region in the country, has acted as the pillar of electricity production in Greece since 1960, utilizing lignite in thermal power stations, which was open mined in the locality. However, following Greece's international commitments for climate action, the region has entered a transition, post-lignite process.Particulate matter concentrations in the region are monitored by the Public Power Corporation (PPC), which operates the mines and thermal power stations, using Grimm Aerosol Technik analyzer, model EDM180.

The lockdown implemented to tackle the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on air quality. Globally, studies have shown that air pollutant levels decreased temporally during the restriction measures. In this study, we evaluated the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the air quality of Western Macedonia, Greece, using the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 along with meteorological data from the Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) operated by the Lignite Center of Western Macedonia. In Western Macedonia, previous studies have identified a general reduction in air pollutant levels during the last decade due to the coal phase-out plan for power generation. During the lockdown, the levels of PM2.5 and PM10 decreased further. The reduced emissions from the local mining activities and lignite-fired power plant electricity generation, as well as the weather conditions, seem to contribute to improving air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, a model combination is developed in order to provide the public, in north-western Greece, with the next day air quality forecast. Generally, the development and deployment of a real-time numerical air quality prediction system is technically challenging while even more in complex terrain. The Air Pollution Model (TAPM) () is a hydrostatic prognostic mesoscale model. It has been calibrated for the area in recent studies and used in air quality assessments. In 2007, TAPM has started operating in a real-time operational mode for the prediction of next day’s weather forecast, particulate matter (PM10 with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm) daily average concentration and Air Pollution Indexes. The model setup is a link up between TAPM and SKIRON modeling system (). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work focuses on the characterization of air quality in a heavy industrialized (mining and power stations operations) area of West Macedonia, Greece. Total suspended particulates (TSP), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm (PM10) and <10 μm (PM2.5) concentrations were monitored over a period of 12 months (March 2003-February 2004) at four sites in the capitals of West Macedonia prefectures Kozani, Grenena, Kastoria and Florina. Ambient TSP were analyzed for 24 chemical elements and 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition were investigated the PM2.5/PM10, PM2.5/TSP and elemental variation ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-years period of measurements of particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5μm; PM2.5) concentrations have been used in order to model seasonal concentrations at the main cities of West Macedonia region, namely Kozani, Florina, Kastoria, and Grevena. This study represents an interesting approach for areas close to lignite-mining operations and lignite-fired power stations that result in major particulate pollution (flyash and fugitive dust). The problem is more complicated for urban areas due to additional contributions from urban pollution sources. For the period of sampling, a number of selected days with relatively high mean daily PM2.5 concentration have been modeled, in order to assess the dominant meteorological conditions in the four cities of the area. The Air Pollution Model (TAPM) has been employed in order to deal with the specified periods by the approximation of particles' trajectories and wind fields. The model predicted influence from stack emission only in the cities of Kozani and Grevena, for the respective experimental periods. The analysis has indicated that a system of meteorological conditions and topographic complexity modulate the transferable particulate pollution of the area examined. However, it remained to be a qualitative approximation, due to the absence of detailed emission inventories in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]