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Concentration of organic micropollutants in the atmosphere of Trieste, Italy

  • POPs Workshop, ten years after the signature of the Stockholm convention
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PAHs, ubiquitous environmental pollutants which are part of the POPs, are mainly produced by anthropogenic activities as well as by natural processes. Occurrences of these pollutants in different sites in Trieste are presented. PCDD/Fs distribution and their possible emission sources are discussed.

Methods

Air samples were collected in different sites near the industrial area, in the city center, and in a background area, using a high-volume sampler equipped with a quartz fiber filter and a PUF. Each sampling lasted a week.

Results

The concentrations of the organochlorinated pollutants are consistent with literature data (ΣPCDD/Fs and Σdl-PCBs were 5–38 fg TEQ/Nm3 and 4–31 fg TEQ/Nm3, respectively), and an apparent seasonal trend was found with slightly higher concentrations in the winter and lower levels in both summer campaigns. Moreover, the isomer profile of each sampling campaign was compared to the fingerprint of a sintering plant, a cement plant, and an incinerator, the main industrial activities in Trieste.

Conclusions

The organic micropollutants were detected in levels consistent with literature data. The results show that the pollutants are uniformally distributed in the atmosphere of Trieste. PCDD/F fingerprints in each site remained almost identical during summer and winter, confirming the yearly prevalence of the emissions from the nearby sintering plant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Atmospheric Pollution Research, Italian National Research Council (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria km 29,300, 00015, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy

    S. Mosca, G. N. Torelli, G. Tramontana, E. Guerriero, M. Rotatori & M. Bianchini

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  1. S. Mosca
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  2. G. N. Torelli
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  3. G. Tramontana
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  4. E. Guerriero
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  5. M. Rotatori
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  6. M. Bianchini
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Correspondence to S. Mosca.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Mosca, S., Torelli, G.N., Tramontana, G. et al. Concentration of organic micropollutants in the atmosphere of Trieste, Italy. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 1927–1935 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0696-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0696-9

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