Ultrafine particles' in ambient air - that is a 'hot issue' currently in the newspapers. Ultrafine particles (UFP), for which traffic emissions (mainly diesel engines) are a major source, have a negative impact on public health. In the European Union, each year about 300.000 people prematurely die as a result of exposure to UFP and Particulate Matter (PM) in general. The European standards for ultrafine particles are exceeded at many locations in the Netherlands. This has forced the government to stop construction projects at these locations.

One of the ways to reduce emissions of UFP, is to stimulate the use of the bicycle. Unfortunately, cyclists are exposed to UFP as well. However, infrastructural measures, such as separate cycling lanes, may reduce the exposure. In order to draw attention to both the 'problem' of airborne UFP and to promote cycling and improvements in the cycling infrastructure, the Dutch Cyclists' Association ('Fietsersbond') has started the project 'Fietsbalans' ('cycling balance'). In this project, the exposure of cyclists to UFP has been measured (more information: www.fietsersbond.nl & www.fietsbalans.nl).

European project launched

As a follow-up to 'Fietsbalans', IVAM has taken the initiative to set-up a European project: VECTOR: Visualisation of the Exposure of Cyclists to Traffic On Roads. In this project, IVAM cooprates with the cyclists' associations in the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary and Lithuania, as well as with the German consultant Kooperationsstelle Hamburg. In VECTOR, a new measurement technique will be used, in which measurements of UFP are combined with video images. By 'mixing' both data, one may produce instructive videos or DVD's, showing the cyclist in a traffic situation, and at the same time (in the images) a graphical representation of the actual exposure to UFP. This method is known as 'PIMEX': Picture Mix Exposure Measurement (www.vast.szw.nl, choose 'PIMEX').

The VECTOR project starts in January 2007, and will run for 2,5 years. During the project, the measurements at cyclists will be carried out. In addition, a lot of effort will be put in 'disseminating' the results, towards the general population, policy makers and students (by means of a "virtual university").