Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A multi-approach monitoring of particulate matter, metals and PAHs in an urban street canyon

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

For the first time until now, the results from a prediction model (Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling System (ADMS)-Road) of pollutant dispersion in a street canyon were compared to the results obtained from biomonitors. In particular, the instrumental monitoring of particulate matter (PM10) and the biomonitoring of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 11 metals by Quercus ilex leaves and Hypnum cupressiforme moss bags, acting as long- and short-term accumulators, respectively, were carried out. For both PAHs and metals, similar bioaccumulation trends were observed, with higher concentrations in biomonitors exposed at the leeward canyon side, affected by primary air vortex. The major pollutant accumulation at the leeward side was also predicted by the ADMS-Road model, on the basis of the prevailing wind direction that determines different exposure of the street canyon sides to pollutants emitted by vehicular traffic. A clear vertical (3, 6 and 9 m) distribution gradient of pollutants was not observed, so that both the model and biomonitoring results suggested that local air turbulences in the street canyon could contribute to uniform pollutant distribution at different heights.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adamo P, Bargagli R, Giordano S, Modenesi P, Monaci F, Pittao E, Spagnuolo V, Tretiach M (2008) Natural and pre-treatments induced variability in the chemical composition and morphology of lichens and mosses selected for active monitoring of airborne elements. Environ Pollut 152:11–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adamo P, Giordano S, Sforza A, Bargagli R (2011) Implementation of airborne trace element monitoring with devitalised transplants of Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw.: assessment of temporal trends and element contribution by vehicular traffic in Naples City. Environ Pollut 159:1620–1628

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alfani A, Bartoli G, Rutigliano FA, Maisto G, Virzo De Santo A (1996) Trace metal biomonitoring in the soil and the leaves of Quercus ilex in the urban area of Naples. Biol Trace Elem Res 51:117–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alfani A, Baldantoni D, Maisto G, Bartoli G, Virzo De Santo A (2000) Temporal and spatial variation in C, N, S and trace element contents in the leaves of Quercus ilex L. within the urban area of Naples. Environ Pollut 109:119–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alfani A, Maisto G, Prati MV, Baldantoni D (2001) Leaves of Quercus ilex L. as biomonitors of PAHs in the air of Naples (Italy). Atmos Environ 35:3553–3559

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alfani A, De Nicola F, Maisto G, Prati MV (2005) Long-term PAH accumulation after bud break in Quercus ilex L. leaves in a polluted environment. Atmos Environ 39:307–314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andretta M, Leonzio B, Lucialli P, Righi S (2006) Application of the ISCST3 model to an industrial area: comparison between predicted and observed concentrations. In: Brebbia CA, Popov V (eds) Risk analysis V: simulation and hazard mitigation. WIT, Southampton, pp 187–196

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ares A, Aboal JR, Fernandez JA, Real C, Carballeira A (2009) Use of the terrestrial moss Pseudoscleropodium purum to detect sources of small scale contamination by PAHs. Atmos Environ 43:5501–5509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ares A, Fernández JA, Aboal JR, Carballeira A (2011) Study of the air quality in industrial areas of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain) by active biomonitoring with Pseudoscleropodium purum. Ecotox Environ Safe 74:533–541

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ares A, Aboal JR, Carballeira A, Giordano S, Adamo P, Fernández JA (2012) Moss bag biomonitoring: a methodological review. Sci Total Environ 432:143–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brandt J, Christensen JH, Frohn LM, Fi P, Berkowicz R, Zlatev Z (2001) Operational air pollution forecasts from European to local scale. Atmos Environ 35(Suppl 1):S91–S98

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brizio E, Genon G, Borsarelli S (2007) PM emissions in an urban context. Am J Environ Sci 3:166–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao T, Wang M, An L, Yu Y, Lou Y, Guo S, Zuo B, Liu Y, Wu J, Cao Y, Zhu Z (2009) Air quality for metals and sulphur in Shanghai, China, determined with moss bags. Environ Pollut 157:1270–1278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Darlington AB, Dat JF, Dixon MA (2001) The biofiltration of indoor air: air flux and temperature influences the removal of toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. Environ Sci Technol 35:240–246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Nicola F, Maisto G, Prati MV, Alfani A (2005) Temporal variations in PAH concentrations in Quercus ilex L. (holm oak) leaves in an urban area. Chemosphere 61:432–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Nicola F, Maisto G, Prati MV, Alfani A (2008) Leaf accumulation of trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Quercus ilex L. Environ Pollut 153:376–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Nicola F, Lancellotti C, Prati MV, Maisto G, Alfani A (2011) Biomonitoring of PAHs by using Quercus ilex leaves: source diagnostic and toxicity assessment. Atmos Environ 45:1428–1433

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Sabatino S, Buccolieri R, Pulvirenti B, Britter RE (2008) Flow and pollutant dispersion in street canyons using FLUENT and ADMS-Urban. Environ Model Assess 13:369–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe. Official Journal of the European Union L 152, 1–44, 11/6/2008.

  • European Commission (2004) PARTICULATES Characterisation of exhaust particulate emissions from road vehicles, Deliv. 8. Measurement of non-exhaust particulate matter

  • Finardi S, De Maria R, D’Allura A, Cascone C, Calori G, Lollobrigida F (2008) A deterministic air quality forecasting system for Torino urban area, Italy. Environ Modell Softe 23:344–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giordano S, Adamo P, Sorbo S, Vingiani S (2005) Atmospheric trace metal pollution in the Naples urban area based on results from moss and lichen bags. Environ Pollut 136:431–442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giordano S, Adamo P, Monaci F, Pittao E, Tretiach M, Bargagli R (2009) Bags with oven-dried moss for the active monitoring of airborne trace elements in urban areas. Environ Pollut 157:2798–2805

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giordano S, Adamo P, Spagnuolo V, Vaglieco B (2010) Instrumental and bio-monitoring of heavy metal and nanoparticle emissions from diesel engine exhaust in controlled environment. J Environ Sci 22:1357–1363

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giordano S, Adamo P, Spagnuolo V, Tretiach M, Bargagli R (2013) Accumulation of airborne trace elements in mosses, lichens and synthetic materials exposed at urban monitoring stations: towards a harmonisation of the moss-bag technique. Chemosphere 90:292–299

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gratani L, Crescente MF, Petruzzi M (2000) Relationship between leaf life-span and photosynthetic activity of Quercus ilex in polluted urban areas (Rome). Environ Pollut 110:19–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harmens H, Foan L, Simon V, Mills G (2013) Terrestrial mosses as biomonitors of atmospheric POPs pollution: a review. Environ Pollut 173:245–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Hertel O, Berkowicz R, Larssen S (1990) The operational street pollution model (OSPM). In: Van Dop H, Steyn DG (Eds.) 18th International Meeting of NATO/CCMS on Air Pollution Modelling and its Application, vol 15. Canada, pp 741–749

  • Hirtl M, Baumann-Stanzer K (2007) Evaluation of two dispersion models (ADMS-Roads and LASAT) applied to street canyons in Stockholm, London and Berlin. Atmos Environ 41:5959–5971

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karppinen A, Kukkonen J, Elolähde T, Konttinen M, Koskentalo T, Rantakrans E (2000) A modelling system for predicting urban air pollution: model description and applications in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Atmos Environ 34:3723–3733

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ketzel M, Omstedt G, Johansson C, During I, Pohjola M, Oettl D, Gidhagen L, Wahlin P, Lohmeyer A, Haakana M, Berkowicz R (2007) Estimation and validation of PM2.5/PM10 exhaust and non-exhaust emission factors for practical street pollution modelling. Atmos Environ 41:9370–9385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knulst JC, Westling HO, Brorström-Lundén E (1995) Airborne organic micropollutant concentrations in mosses and humus as indicators for local versus long-range sources. Environ Monit Assess 36:75–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lehndorff E, Schwark L (2010) Biomonitoring of air quality in the Cologne Conurbation using pine needles as a passive sampler—part III: major and trace elements. Atmos Environ 44:2822–2829

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu CH, Barth MC, Leung DYC (2004) Large-eddy simulation of flow and pollutant transport in street canyons of different building-height-to-street-width ratios. J Appl Meteorol 43:1410–1424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Zhang G, Jones KC, Li X, Peng X, Qi S (2005) Compositional fractionation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mosses (Hypnum plumaeformae WILS.) from the northern slope of Nanling Mountains, South China. Atmos Environ 39:5490–5499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Michaels RA, Kleinman MT (2000) Incidence and apparent health significance of brief airborne particle excursions. Aerosol Sci Techn 32:93–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monaci F, Moni F, Lanciotti E, Grechi D, Bargagli R (2000) Biomonitoring of airborne metals in urban environments: new tracers of vehicle emission, in place of lead. Environ Pollut 107:321–327

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murena F (2012) Monitoring and modelling carbon monoxide concentrations in a deep street canyon: application of a two-box model. Atmos Pollut Res. doi:10.5094/APR.2012.034

  • Ötvös E, Kozák IO, Fekete J, Sharma VK, Tuba Z (2004) Atmospheric deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mosses (Hypnum cupressiforme) in Hungary. Sci Total Environ 330:89–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Righi S, Lucialli P, Pollini E (2009) Statistical and diagnostic evaluation of the ADMS-Urban model compared with an urban air quality monitoring network. Atmos Environ 43:3850–3857

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma P, Khare M (2001) Modelling of vehicular exhausts—a review. Transport Res D-Tr E 6:179–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spagnuolo V, Zampella M, Giordano S, Adamo P (2011) Cytological stress and element uptake in moss and lichen exposed in bags in urban area. Ecotox Environ Safe 74:1434–1443

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vardoulakis S, Fisher BEA, Pericleous K, Gonzalez-Flesca N (2003) Modelling air quality in street canyons: a review. Atmos Environ 37:155–182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vardoulakis S, Valiantis M, Milner J, ApSimon H (2007) Operational air pollution modelling in the UK—street canyon applications and challenges. Atmos Environ 41:4622–4637

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vitiello C (2011) Modellazione dei livelli di concentrazione di monossido di carbonio in uno street canyon con ADMS-Roads. Tesi di Laurea in Ingegneria Chimica, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Napoli

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickramasinghe AP, Karunaratne DGGP, Sivakanesan R (2011) PM10-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: concentrations, source characterization and estimating their risk in urban, suburban and rural areas in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Atmos Environ 45:2642–2650

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamartino RJ, Wiegand G (1986) Development and evaluation of simple models for the flow, turbulence and pollutant concentration fields within an urban street canyon. Atmos Environ 20:2137–2156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zechmeister HG, Dullinger S, Hohenwallner D, Riss A, Hanus-Illnar A, Scharf S (2006) Pilot study on road traffic emissions (PAHs, heavy metals) measured by using mosses in a tunnel experiment in Vienna, Austria. Environ Sci Pollut R Int 13(6):398–405

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Assessorato Ambiente del Comune di Napoli and ANEA (Agenzia Napoletana Energia e Ambiente) for their support during monitoring campaign. The authors gratefully thank also Ivana Imperatore, the IPSIA Colosimo and the inhabitants living in Santa Teresa street who made the moss bag exposure possible. This work was financially supported by MIUR (PRIN 2007–2007AH8KT8).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipt. Scienze per la Biologia, la Geologia e l’Ambiente, Università degli Studi del Sannio, via Port’Arsa 11, Benevento, Italy

    Flavia De Nicola

  2. Dipt. Ingegneria Chimica, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, p.le Tecchio 80, Naples, Italy

    Fabio Murena

  3. Istituto Motori CNR, viale Marconi 8, Naples, Italy

    M. Antonietta Costagliola & M. Vittoria Prati

  4. Dipt. Chimica e Biologia, Università degli Studi di Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy

    Anna Alfani, Daniela Baldantoni & Ludovica Sessa

  5. Dipt. Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant’Angelo, via Cinthia, Naples, Italy

    Valeria Spagnuolo & Simonetta Giordano

Authors
  1. Flavia De Nicola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fabio Murena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Antonietta Costagliola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anna Alfani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Daniela Baldantoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Vittoria Prati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ludovica Sessa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Valeria Spagnuolo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Simonetta Giordano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Antonietta Costagliola.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Gerhard Lammel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

De Nicola, F., Murena, F., Costagliola, M.A. et al. A multi-approach monitoring of particulate matter, metals and PAHs in an urban street canyon. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 4969–4979 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1456-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1456-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation