Background atmospheric levels of aldehydes, BTEX and PM10 pollutants in a medium-sized city of southern Italy

Background atmospheric levels of aldehydes, BTEX and PM10 pollutants were measured in the suburb of Caserta (Italy), 75 thousands inhabitants, 41degrees 04' N, on rainless weekdays and weekends during 2005. On weekdays the average daily concentrations (microg m(-3)) were 41.6 PM10, 8.6 benzene, 25.2 toluene, 6.3 ethylbenzene, 14.0 (m+p)-xylene, 11.7 o-xylene, 6.5 formaldehyde, 3.3 acetaldehyde. All the pollutant concentrations were strictly correlated (mean correlation coefficients = 0.90). At weekends the concentrations were lower by about 1.6 times. Both on weekdays and at weekends the PM10 and benzene levels exceeded the limits set by the EU Directive 30/1999 and 69/2000, respectively.     

Sediment metal contamination in a creek flowing from a pristine to an industrial area of Trieste Province (Italy)

The following metals: Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) in fluvial sediments of Rosandra Creek, using two different, strong and mild sediment decomposition methods. The purpose was to obtain information about the contamination by metals and distribution paths of pollutants in the area crossed by Rosandra Creek: this little river is the unique epigeous watercourse in the Italian Karst and very few data can be found in literature. In this area, we can find a natural park, but also agricultural activities and an industrial district that was recently defined as "polluted site of national interest". By comparing the results of the strong and mild extraction we have obtained the percentage of extraction and enrichment factors for each metal in the different sediments of the sites R2 and R3 exposed to pollution, while the site R1 was considered as a pristine one because situated in the natural park. The computed enrichment factors are generally not very high, but copper, lead and zinc have factors that require attention. The principal component analysis (PCA) shows that the typically anthropogenic metals (as Cr, Pb, Cu and Zn) constitute the first factor, while the lithogenic metals, as Fe and Ni, constitute the second one; moreover the score plots permit to classify and distinguish the 3 sites: site R3, possibly the more exposed to contamination, has high scores both for anthropogenic and lithogenic metals.     

Temporal variation of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in PM10 from the Kathmandu Valley and their gas-particle concentrations in winter

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in particulate matter (PM) with a diameter <10 µm (PM₁₀, 50% cut off) were investigated in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, during 2003. In order to understand the dynamics of atmospheric PAHs in winter, the PAH concentrations in total PM and in the gaseous phase were investigated in the valley in December 2005. Total of 45 PAH compounds (∑45PAHs) were analysed by high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). In 2003, the ∑45PAH concentrations in PM₁₀ ranged between 4.3 and 89 ng m^?3 (annual average; 27 ± 24 ng m^?3). The average concentrations of ∑45PAHs in December 2005 were 210 ± 33 ng m^?3 in total PM and 430 ± 90 ng m^?3 in the gaseous phase. The ∑45PAH concentration in PM accounted for more than 30% of the sum of their particulate and gaseous forms. Phenanthrene (Ph) was the most predominant compound in the gaseous phase, whereas four- to seven-ring PAHs were predominant in total PM. The highest values of ∑45PAHs occurred in the winter and spring. Estimates of emission sources based on diagnostic molecular ratios showed that atmospheric PAHs in the Kathmandu Valley mainly originated from the exhaust gas of diesel engine. In the winter and spring, PAH pollution would be accelerated by the operations of brick kilns and the frequent formation of an atmospherically stable layer in the valley.     

Carbonaceous aerosol in the breathable particulate matter (PM10) in urban area

Carbonaceous material is a large fraction of urban aerosol and it is classified into Elemental Carbon (EC) and Organic Carbon (OC). EC particles are emitted from combustion sources. Because most combustion sources are anthropogenic and generally EC does not undergo chemical transformations, EC is a good indicator of primary anthropogenic primary pollution. OC particles species are emitted from primary emission sources either anthropogenic or biogenic sources. In this paper we have measured the ground concentration of Particulate Matter (PM), Total Carbon (TC), EC and OC in two Monitoring Stations in Rome. The first station is situated downtown Rome (near S.M. Maggiore Cathedral) where the traffic emission flux is strong. The second station is located in the inner a green park (Villa Ada Park): this site is not directly influenced by anthropogenic emissions. The results show that in Rome the TC contribution is about 30% of PM and the OC/EC vary between 0.5 and 1.5 according to the site we are considering. About the chemical particle composition the long-chain carboxylic have been identified as major constituent of organic aerosol and a range values are reported for two important compound class, the Polyciclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and the nitro-PAHs wich are at very low levels.     

A study of the atmospheric lead pollution in Seville, Spain. Influence of meteorology and traffic, and relationship with other traffic-generated pollutants

A study of the atmospheric pollution by suspended particulate lead in the city of Seville, Spain, was carried out during the period between March 1983 and February 1984. The results obtained from seven sampling stations allowed us to study the site to site variations; there are two locations with average annual concentrations higher than 2 micrograms X m-3. In one station, the meteorological and traffic effects and relationship with other traffic-related pollutants, were investigated. The regression analyses performed on the average monthly data have shown an inverse correlation with wind speed and temperature and a direct correlation with carbon monoxide and smoke concentrations, but no significant correlation was found with the lead deposition levels.     

Heavy metals in PM10 sampled in the urban area of Campi Salentina (Apulia, southern Italy)

The following paper shows results of PM10 level and Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn concentrations present in this fraction for filters collected in the urban area of Campi Salentina (Apulia, Southern Italy) in 2004 in order to inquire into air quality. PM10 and lead concentrations did not exceed the standard values sanctioned by Italian Legislature with average values equal to 36.54 +/- 14.57 microg x m(-3) and 9.19 +/- 5.24 ng x m(-3) respectively. Significant correlations have been found between the pairs Fe-Mn, Ni-V, Cr-Ni and Cd-Cr. This suggests that these metals have a similar pollution source probably due to metallurgical activity. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that it is possible to distinguish the PM10 samples collected in sampling periods with different meteorological conditions. Indeed, metals concentration increases for samples characterized by scarce rains or by winds prevailing from North or North-West and is reduced due to different meteorological conditions, although there are some exceptions.     

Transport of atmospheric pollutants in a semi-rural area of central Italy

An environmental monitoring program aimed to the evaluation of the air quality in the surroundings of Gallese (near Viterbo, in central Italy) was carried out from July 1998 to July 2000. The goal of the program was the comprehension of the transport and transformation mechanisms of nitrogen and sulphur pollutants, and the evaluation of photochemical smog episodes. In this framework, a wide range of atmospheric pollution events was studied, and for many of them it was possible to detect the main source of the pollution. We report in this paper the interpretation of ozone episodes, sulphur dioxide episodes and sea-salts episodes, due to transport from the urban area of Rome, the industrial area of Narni-Tarni and the coastal areas of the Tyrrhenian Sea, respectively.     

Correlations among inorganic and organic elements in particulate matter (PM10) in urban area of Venezia-Mestre

Concentrations of inhalable particulate matter (PM10), Pb, Zn, Pt, Ce, Cd, Se and of Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) were determined in three locations near Venice from September 2000 to September 2001. Meteorological conditions were considered during the sampling period. All components showed higher concentrations during winter, except for Cd and Se in the two sites at Mestre. Spatial and temporal variations were observed. There were correlations between Pb and Zn and PM10, Cd and Se, Pb and BaP and, in the main street sampling site, also between BaP and Pt. Their possible sources of emission are discussed on the basis of correlations among elements.     

Ground level ozone (O3) associated with radon (222Rn) and particulate matter (PM) concentrations in Bucharest metropolitan area and adverse health effects

The aim of this paper is to contribute with new information in the application of ground based radon (²²²Rn) observations to atmospheric research, namely its relation with air pollution due to ground-level ozone (O₃) and particle matter in two size fractions (PM10 and PM2.5) for Bucharest metropolitan area in Romania. During January 1–December 31, 2011, ground levels of radon, ozone and particulate matter (PM) have been continuously monitored in synergy with the main meteorological parameters (air temperature, humidity and pressure), and daily global air quality indices. A systematic analysis of surface ozone observations of ground level radon, ozone and PM is presented. Observational results indicate the following yearly daily mean ground level concentrations: 40.26 ± 7.54 Bq/m³ for radon, 90.51 μg/m³ for ozone, 35.96 μg/m³ for PM2.5, and 40.91 μg/m³ for PM10. The assessment of the results showed the influence of local and meteorological conditions on the daily mean radon, ozone and PM concentrations. However, in densely populated metropolitan area of Bucharest the mean daily values of ozone, PM2.5, PM10, and attached ²²²Rn are sometimes higher than European Community limit values leading to serious public concern during the last years. Due to the high risk of increased levels of O₃, PM2.5, PM10, and attached ²²²Rn on human health respiratory function (especially for children and older persons), and urban green, the results are very useful for atmospheric, radiological protection, epidemiological and environmental studies.     

离子色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱联用测定大气颗粒物PM2.5和PM10中的六价铬

建立了大气颗粒物PM_2.5、PM₁₀中六价铬（Cr（Ⅵ））的离子色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱（IC-ICP-MS）检测方法。采用碳酸氢钠（NaHCO₃）溶液超声提取大气颗粒物样品中的Cr（Ⅵ）,并使用含有0.22 g/L 乙二胺四乙酸二钠盐（Na₂EDTA）的75 mmol/L硝酸铵溶液（pH 7.0）淋洗液通过离子色谱柱（AG7,50 mm×4 mm）分离出样品中的Cr（Ⅵ）,电感耦合等离子体质谱测定。标准溶液中Cr（Ⅵ）的质量浓度在0.05~5 μg/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,相关系数达0.9999,标准溶液测定的精密度为1.0%~4.0%,标准样品测定的相对误差为3.3%;纤维素滤膜适用于Cr（Ⅵ）的采样,将纤维素滤膜碱化后,Cr（Ⅵ）的回收率从75%增加到102%;样品在20 mmol/L碳酸氢钠溶液中超声30 min后上机测试,提取完全且回收率稳定;当采样体积为20 m³,方法的检出限为0.0004 ng/m³;采集并测定了PM_2.5及PM₁₀实际样品,样品的加标回收率为91.6%~102%,精密度为1.7%~7.6%。该方法高效、稳定、灵敏,适用于大气颗粒物中六价铬的测定。     

Source apportionment of gaseous atmospheric pollutants by means of an absolute principal component scores (APCS) receptor model

A multivariate statistical method has been applied to apportion the atmospheric pollutant concentrations measured by automatic gas analyzers placed on a mobile laboratory for air quality monitoring in Taranto (Italy). In particular, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) followed by Absolute Principal Component Scores (APCS) technique was performed to identify the number of emission sources and their contribution to measured concentrations of CO, NOx, benzene toluene m+p-Xylene (BTX). This procedure singled out two different sources that explain about 85% of collected data variance.     

Airborne particulates (PM2.5/PM10) monitoring in Korea by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used for the analysis of 25 trace elements in airborne particulate matter (PM) for air pollution monitoring. For the collection of air samples, the Gent stacked filter unit low volume sampler and two types of Nuclepore polycarbonate filters were employed. Samples were collected at selected sampling dates in suburban and industrial regions of Daejon city in the Republic of Korea. Mass concentrations and black carbon of PM were measured, and enrichment factors were calculated. The results were used to describe the emission sources and their correlation patterns.     

Assessing the role of chemical components in cellular responses to atmospheric particle matter (PM) through chemical fractionation of PM extracts

In order to further our understanding of the influence of chemical components and ultimately specific sources of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) on pro-inflammatory and other adverse cellular responses, we promulgate and apply a suite of chemical fractionation tools to aqueous aerosol extracts of PM samples for analysis in toxicity assays. We illustrate the approach with a study that used water extracts of quasi-ultrafine PM (PM_0.25) collected in the Los Angeles Basin. Filtered PM extracts were fractionated using Chelex, a weak anion exchanger diethylaminoethyl (DEAE), a strong anion exchanger (SAX), and a hydrophobic C18 resin, as well as by desferrioxamine (DFO) complexation that binds iron. The fractionated extracts were then analyzed using high-resolution sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICPMS) to determine elemental composition. Cellular responses to the fractionated extracts were probed in an in vitro rat alveolar macrophages model with measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The DFO treatment that chelates iron was very effective at reducing the cellular ROS activity but had only a small impact on the TNF-α production. In contrast, the hydrophobic C18 resin treatment had a small impact on the cellular ROS activity but significantly reduced the TNF-α production. The use of statistical methods to integrate the results across all treatments led to the conclusion that sufficient iron must be present to participate in the chemistry needed for ROS activity, but the amount of ROS activity is not proportional to the iron solution concentration. ROS activity was found to be most related to cationic mono- and divalent metals (i.e., Mn and Ni) and oxyanions (i.e., Mo and V). Although the TNF-α production was not significantly affected by the chelexation of iron, it was greatly impacted by the removal of organics with the C18 resin and all other metal removal methods, suggesting that iron is not a critical pathway leading to TNF-α production, but a wide range of soluble metals and organic compounds in particulate matter play a role. Although the results are specific to the Los Angeles Basin, where the samples used in the study were collected, the method employed in the study can be widely employed to study the role of components of particulate matter in in vitro or in vivo assays.     

Characterization of n-alkanes and PAHs in PM10 samples in Prato (Italy)

This study reports the characterization of n-alkanes and PAHs in 13 PM10 samples collected in the South area of Prato (Italy) during the period April-July 2002. n-Alkanes concentrations ranged between 9.45 and 182.64 ng/mc while PAHs concentrations ranged from 3.058 to 22.048 ng/mc. No correlation was evidenced between benzo(a)pirene and PM10 concentrations. Total carbonaceous aerosol was also measured and it meanly accounted for 21.5% of the PM10 mass ranging from 12.4% to 27.1%.     

Deep investigation on inorganic fraction of atmospheric PM in Mediterranean area by neutron and photon activation analysis

Background

Anthropogenic activities introduce materials increasing levels of many dangerous substances for the environmental quality and being hazardous to human health. Major attention has been given to those elements able to alter the environment and endanger human health.The airborne particulate matter pollutant is considered one of the most difficult task in environmental chemistry for its complex composition and implications complicating notably the behavior comprehension. So, for investigating deeply the elemental composition we used two nuclear techniques, Neutron Activation Analysis and Photon Activation Analysis, characterized by high sensitivity, precision and accuracy. An important task has been devoted to the investigation of Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) of the methodology used in this study.This study was therefore extended as far back as possible in time (from 1965 until 2000) in order to analyze the trend of airborne concentration of pollutant elements in connection with the industrial and lifestyle growth during the entire period.

Results

Almost all the elements may be attributed to long-range transport phenomena from other natural and/or anthropogenic sources: this behavior is common to all the periods studied even if a very light decreasing trend can be evidenced from 1970 to 2002. Finally, in order to investigate a retrospective study of elements in PM10 and their evolution in relationship with the natural or anthropogenic origins, we have investigated the Enrichment Factors. The study shows the EF trends for some elements in PM10 during four decades.

Conclusions

The two nuclear techniques have allowed to reach elevated sensibility/accuracy levels for determining elements at very low concentrations (trace and ultra-trace levels). The element concentrations determined in this study do not basically show a significant level of attention from a toxicological point of view.

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Local variations of atmospheric 222Rn and 210Pb concentrations in Badgastein (Austria)

²²²Rn was measured and aerosols for ²¹⁰Pb determination were collected simultaneously outdoors at ground level near the train station of Badgastein (1080 m a.s.l.), and later on also on the nearby Stubnerkogel (2230 m a.s.l.). Radon concentrations at lower altitude were up to 140 Bq/m³, on the mountain the usual background levels were found. In contrary to the differing radon levels, the ²¹⁰Pb activity concentrations were in the same order of magnitude for both locations with values between 0.16 and 0.77 mBq/m³.     

Interpretation of atmospheric pollution phenomena in relationship with the vertical atmospheric remixing by means of natural radioactivity measurements (radon) of particulate matter

In this paper the results of seasonal monitoring campaign for primary (benzene and carbon monoxide) and secondary (nitrogen dioxide and ozone) pollutants and for the natural radioactivity of the particulate matter in the urban area of Rome, are reported to investigate acute atmospheric pollution episodes. Comparing the daily concentration trends of primary and secondary pollutants with those of the natural radioactivity, considered as index of the vertical diffusion in the low boundary layer, it has been evidenced that the acute pollution episodes in Rome occur in the winter period for the high atmospheric stability (primary pollution) and in the summer period for the strong diurnal atmospheric remixing (secondary pollution).     

Heavy metals and nutrients in coastal, surface seawaters (Gulf of Trieste, Northern Adriatic Sea): an environmental study by factor analysis

Trace metals and nutrients were monitored voltammetrically and spectrophotometrically during a one-year period (1992/93) in the filtered fraction of coastal surface seawaters sampled with a monthly frequency at 6 different sites in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea), to evaluate the degree of pollution in an area receiving industrial, agricultural and urban wastes. The sites devoted to hatcheries of edible mussels are of particular interest. A multivariate statistical analysis of the collected concentration data by the principal component method allows to identify the sources and typology of pollution, and to discriminate between the quality of waters at the different sampling sites. The coastal waters in the Gulf of Trieste seem to be comparable to, or better than, waters of analogous areas in the Mediterranean Sea.