Conference will explore the links between vehicle emissions and ambient air - Wednesday 8 June 2005 in the Ballacraine Suite, National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham, UK
Particulate Matter is the predominant cause of health effects from ambient air in the UK, though the specific factors that affect health are not yet clear.
One possibility is that the smallest sized particles have a disproportionate effect, so that particle numbers are a more useful parameter than particle mass.
Typically, particles below 100nm in size are called ultrafine particles, while those below 50nm are called nanoparticles.
In recent years the EU has discussed regulating nanoparticle emissions from vehicle engines, and the UK government is undertaking long term monitoring of nanoparticles in ambient air.
This has brought new challenges in the science of particle formation and transport, and in the techniques used to measure them.
The need for robust and comparable measurement methods for both environmental and manufactured nanoparticles was highlighted in the recent Royal Society Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies report.
This event, organised by the National Physical Laboratory and the Royal Society of Chemistry, aims to bring together those working with both vehicle and ambient air nanoparticles to discuss measurement advances.
Regulators, scientists, and instrument manufacturers in these fields should all attend.
Speakers include Prof Roy Harrison from Birmingham University, Jon Andersson of Ricardo Consulting Engineers, Wolfram Birmili, Leipzig Institute for Tropospheric Research, and Ian Marshall, AEA Technology.
There will also be an equipment exhibition.
