Invitation to participate in
The 2^nd International WeBIOPATR Workshop:
Research and Management
to be hold from August 29^th to September 2^nd , 2009, at Mećavnik, Serbia

Dear Colleague,

It is our pleasure to invite you to participate in the WeBIOPATR Workshop.

The decision to held this Workshop has arisen mainly as part of activities related to the project "Outdoor concentration, size distribution and composition of respirable particles in WB urban areas, WeBIOPATR" (October 2006-October 2009.)

WeBIOPATR is funded by the Reseach Council of Norway through Norwegian Cooperation Programme on Research and Higher Education with countries in the Western Balkans in 2006-2009.

Exposure to respirable Particulate Matter in outdoor and indoor environment was neglected in the past, in comparison to exposure to Particulate Matter at workplace. Today there are many research projects that investigate heath effects of respirable, fine and ultrafine as well as nano particles from anthropogenic and natural sources. Different climate, long range transport , type of domestic heating, quality of petrol and other factors related to human activities influence the formation and physical and chemical properties of particulate matter in outdoor and indoor environment. It is of great importance for air quality management aiming to reduce risks to human health, to provide evidence and assess characteristic of PM at local and at regional level as well as in different indoor environments of Western Balkan Countries

Out of many ideas regarding The 2^nd WeBIOPATR Workshop, one was through informing each other on our research activities, to present results and initiate more collaborative research and field measurements in Western Balkan area and region of Southeastern Europe. In particular to sample and analyse Respirable Particulate Matter with different equipment, and to make field and laboratory intercomparisons of equipment and methods. This also should enable exchange of scientific information and field work experiences on the PM issue. The topics of the Workshop are presented in the Announcement and on the web site.

In addition to research, the second main theme of the Workshop is to identify the potential and promote improvements in the field PM monitoring in the region of Western Balkan. Special season will be organized for presentation and discussion of PhD and doctoral theses related to particulate matter as well as air pollution in Serbia, region of Western Balkan as well as South Eastern Europe.

With best regards, and in anticipation of your support,

For the Organizing Committee
Alena Bartonova and Milena Jovašević-Stojanović,
Coordinators of WeBIOPATR project