Characterisation of atmospheric pollution and of Oxidative Potential in an industrial suburban site in Southern Italy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36125/ijoehy.v12i2.401Keywords:
biogas plant emissions, PM2.5, PM Oxidative potential, source apportionment, size distributionAbstract
The study deals with air quality assessment of a densely populated area in South Italy, including industrial settlements, including a biogas production and combustion plant.
Statistical analysis of gaseous and particles’ concentration (of different size classes) and source apportionment, based to chemical characterisation of PM2.5, allowed to identify the main sources contributing to measured levels, with a specific focus on the plant contribution. Further, the Oxidative Potential (OP) of PM2.5, considered by the international scientific community as an indirect indicator of human health risks due to PM, was determined by an acellular assay. Finally, potential toxicity of each PM2.5 identified source was estimated with two independent approaches (PMF and MLR).
Results indicated combustion sources (biomass burning and traffic plus secondary nitrate) as the main contributors to PM2.5, as well as to nitrogen oxides (NOX), carbon monoxide (CO) and smaller particles (nanoparticles and ultrafine particles). The impact of the biogas plant was found to industrial and traffic plus secondary nitrate sources, together with to nitrogen monoxide (NO), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and accumulation particles.
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