Air pollutants and the characterization of the organic content of aerosol particles in a mixed industrial/semi-rural area in central Italy

J Environ Monit. 2007 Mar;9(3):275-82. doi: 10.1039/b615118c. Epub 2007 Jan 31.

Abstract

Both regulated and unregulated air pollutants were detected during an intensive seasonal sampling campaign in a mixed industrial/semi-rural area on the outskirts of Rome, Italy, at two sites located opposite a hospital waste incinerator, downwind according to the direction of the prevailing local winds. Concentrations of pollutants were significantly lower than in urban atmospheres. The composition of particulate organic material indicated a heavy biogenic impact, accompanied by a lower contribution from petroleum-related processes. Both PAH and nitro-PAH group compositions of particulates were used to assess the nature and relative importance of sources. Both sites showed that different and diffuse sources contributed to local pollution with a significant contribution from traffic, proving that the hospital waste incinerator was not the main pollution source in this area. Among unregulated compounds, a series of positional isomers of nitro-PAHs and other organic compounds associated with particulate matter were investigated. In particular, 1- and 3-nitrophenanthrene identification was carried out, and they proved to be the most abundant nitro-PAHs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols / analysis*
  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Cities
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Geography
  • Industry
  • Italy
  • Organic Chemicals / analysis*
  • Organic Chemicals / chemistry
  • Organic Chemicals / classification
  • Particle Size
  • Particulate Matter / analysis*
  • Particulate Matter / chemistry
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / chemistry
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / classification
  • Rome
  • Seasons

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Air Pollutants
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Particulate Matter
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons