Atmospheric particulate matter and air quality in the Mediterranean: a review

This article synthesises the results obtained in several projects on atmospheric aerosol (particulate matter – PM) pollution developed during the last years in the Western Mediterranean. It focuses on particulate matter sources and the strategies for suitable monitoring in ambient air. The article has been structured in several sections that give response to the main questions that prompted these studies. After analysing the main PM features in the Mediterranean, a brief review of the main factors differentiating the particulate matter composition with respect to Central Europe is presented. Finally, the suitability of the different metrics or parameters for monitoring ambient air PM levels in different types of environments is discussed. Selected article from the 6th European Meeting on Environmental Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro organized by Prof. Dr. Branimir Jovancicevic (www.research.plymouth.ac.uk/ace).