ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS IN AMBIENT AIR

Exposure to heavy metals causes a range of human disorders and ecological damage. It is therefore vital that emissions are strictly limited and controlled. While heavy metals enter into the environment in a variety of ways, airborne emissions are of particular concern. Once introduced into the atmosphere, pollutants are able to travel great distances from their original source, transferring contaminants to ecosystems far and wide. To control heavy metal pollution and limit its harmful impacts, governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are implementing increasingly stringent legislation. Meeting these regulations requires highly accurate monitoring techniques. This article looks at the work of Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM), the Flemish Environment Agency, in monitoring airborne heavy metal pollution in Belgium.