An integrated approach to identify the origin of PM^sub 10^ exceedances

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 19; no. 8; p. 3132
• Main Authors: Amodio, M, Andriani, E, de Gennaro, G, Demarinis Loiotile, A, Di Gilio, A, Placentino, M C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer Nature B.V 01-09-2012
• Subjects: Aerosols; Air masses; Air pollution; Air quality; Analysis; Anthropogenic factors; Atmospheric aerosols; Automation; Chemistry; Chromatography; Emissions; Integrated approach; Nitrates; Normal distribution; Outdoor air quality; Particulate matter; Pollution dispersion; Principal components analysis; Radioactivity; Risk management; Studies; Eastern Europe; Italy
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-012-0804-5

Issue Title: International Conference on Chemistry and the Environment in Zurich - ICCE 2011 This study was aimed to the development of an integrated approach for the characterization of particulate matter (PM) pollution events in the South of Italy. PM^sub 10^ and PM^sub 2.5^ daily samples were collected from June to November 2008 at an urban background site located in Bari (Puglia Region, South of Italy). Meteorological data, particle size distributions and atmospheric dispersion conditions were also monitored in order to provide information concerning the different features of PM sources. The collected data allowed suggesting four indicators to characterize different PM^sub 10^ exceedances. PM^sub 2.5^/PM^sub 10^ ratio, natural radioactivity, aerosol maps and back-trajectory analysis and particle distributions were considered in order to evaluate the contribution of local anthropogenic sources and to determine the different origins of intrusive air mass coming from long-range transport, such as African dust outbreaks and aerosol particles from Central and Eastern Europe. The obtained results were confirmed by applying principal component analysis to the number particle concentration dataset and by the chemical characterization of the samples (PM^sub 10^ and PM^sub 2.5^). The integrated approach for PM study suggested in this paper can be useful to support the air quality managers for the development of cost-effective control strategies and the application of more suitable risk management approaches.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]