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Influence of transport from urban sources and domestic biomass combustion on the air quality of a mountain area

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Abstract

The environmental influence of biomass burning for civil uses was investigated through the determination of several air toxicants in the town of Leonessa and its surroundings, in the mountain region of central Italy. Attention was focussed on PM10, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and regulated gaseous pollutants (nitrogen dioxide, ozone and benzene). Two in-field campaigns were carried out during the summer 2012 and the winter 2013. Contemporarily, air quality was monitored in Rome and other localities of Lazio region. In the summer, all pollutants, with the exception of ozone, were more abundant in Rome. On the other hand, in the winter, PAH concentration was higher in Leonessa (15.8 vs. 7.0 ng/m3), while PM10 was less concentrated (22 vs. 34 μg/m3). Due to lack of other important sources and to limited impact of vehicle traffic, biomass burning was identified as the major PAH source in Leonessa during the winter. This hypothesis was confirmed by PAH molecular signature of PM10 (i.e. concentration diagnostic ratios and 206 ion mass trace in the chromatograms). A similar phenomenon (i.e. airborne particulate levels similar to those of the capital city but higher PAH loads) was observed in other locations of the province, suggesting that uncontrolled biomass burning contributed to pollution across the Rome metropolitan area.

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Abbreviations

PAH:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

FP:

Fingerprint (molecular signature)

DR:

Diagnostic concentration ratio

MW:

Molecular weight

BaA:

Benz[a]anthracene

BbF:

Benzo[b]fluoranthene

BjF:

Benzo[j]fluoranthene

BkF:

Benzo[k]fluoranthene

BFs:

BbF+BjF+BkF

BPE:

Benzo[ghi]perylene

BeP:

Benzo[e]pyrene

BaP:

Benz[a]pyrene

CH:

Chrysene

DBA:

Dibenz[a,h]anthracene

IP:

Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene

PE:

Perylene

LNS:

Leonessa (Rieti)

TRZ:

Terzone (Rieti)

RDT:

Rome downtown

ROS:

Rome outskirts

RPR:

Rome province

IC:

Ion chromatography

CGC:

Capillary gas chromatography

FID:

Flame ionization detection

MSD (EI-SIM):

Mass spectrometric detection (operated in electron impact, selected ion monitoring mode)

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Department for Territory of Lazio Region within SELVA Project. We are grateful to our colleague Dr. Maria Catrambone and her team, who provided the PM concentration data at Leonessa and Terzone, and to Dr. Erica Perreca who participated with the analyses of diffusive samplers. The cooperation of Dr. Sergio Ceradini and Mr. Tech. Fabrizio Sacco from ARPA Lazio Agency was important in performing PAH characterization in the outskirts of Rome and the four abovementioned towns.

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  1. National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy

    Francesco Petracchini, Paola Romagnoli, Lucia Paciucci, Francesca Vichi, Andrea Imperiali, Valerio Paolini, Flavia Liotta & Angelo Cecinato

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  1. Francesco Petracchini
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  2. Paola Romagnoli
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  3. Lucia Paciucci
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  4. Francesca Vichi
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  5. Andrea Imperiali
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  6. Valerio Paolini
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  7. Flavia Liotta
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  8. Angelo Cecinato
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Correspondence to Valerio Paolini.

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Petracchini, F., Romagnoli, P., Paciucci, L. et al. Influence of transport from urban sources and domestic biomass combustion on the air quality of a mountain area. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 4741–4754 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8111-1

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