Persistent Organic Pollutants and Metals in Atmospheric Deposition Rates around the Port-Industrial Area of Civitavecchia, Italy

Gaetano Settimo,Maria Eleonora Soggiu,Giovanni Marsili,Marco Inglessis,Pasquale Avino

doi:10.3390/app11041827

Gaetano Settimo, Maria Eleonora Soggiu + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041827

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Abstract

In recent years, studies on climate change have focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions emitted by various civil and industrial processes. This study highlights the importance of characterizing the total deposition rates of airborne particles (bulk atmospheric deposition) in the surroundings of an industrial area along the north cost of the Lazio Region in Italy, to deepen knowledge about the potential impact of emissions from the coal-fired thermoelectric (CTE) power plant and other possible sources existing in the surrounding area. Four sampling sites were identified, and the monitoring plan was performed a yearlong with monthly collecting observation. The deposition samples were collected monthly and processed for determining organic (polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins, PCDDs; polychlorinated dibenzofurans, PCDFs; dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, DL-PCBs; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs) and inorganic (metals) substances. The samples were collected monthly and sent for chemical characterization. In Europe and Italy, no reference values have been given for the deposition rates of chemicals, while some European countries have determined reference/guide values to which the authors will refer in this study. Therefore, the analytical results show that the deposition rates for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs are lower with respects guide values defined by Germany and Belgium; PAHs values are in line with those measured in other rural-type sites, while for metals the analytical results show a situation between rural and urban area. The approach used in this study can help to identify reference values for Italy in deposition rates, with the aim both to characterize the dynamic of pollution in area with multiple risk factors and to describe and protect human health from environmental exposures caused by the contamination of the food chain.

Highlights

Atmospheric pollutant emissions due to anthropogenic activities cause the deposition of airborne particles, with negative effects on human health, environment, food and ecosystem [1,2,3]
About polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs), Belgium suggests a maximum value of 8 pg World Health Organization-Toxic Equivalent concentrations (WHO-TE) m−2d−1 based on the human tolerable weekly intake (TWI) [6]; while Germany, using a guideline approach, for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs only, suggests 4 pg WHO-TE m−2d−1 [7]
Deposition samples are suitable to measure the environmental concentration of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), as PCDD/F, PCB and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [34,35,36,37,38]

Summary

Introduction

Atmospheric pollutant emissions due to anthropogenic activities cause the deposition of airborne particles, with negative effects on human health, environment, food and ecosystem [1,2,3]. Deposition samples are suitable to measure the environmental concentration of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), as PCDD/F, PCB and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [34,35,36,37,38] For these reasons, the pollutant downfall from atmosphere to soil both in environmental surveys and in monitoring networks, are very important for the information on the area’s contamination allowing to perform a comprehensive assessment of the population exposure. Has drawn up the National Energy Strategy (NES) and the Integrated National Plan for Energy and Climate (INPEC) which contain the national targets for 2030 which provide for the decarbonization of the energy system starting from 2025, with a sharp cut in use of coal for the production of electricity In this frame, electricity production is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The study, addressed to characterize the related organic and inorganic dust fractions, aims to carry out a characterization of the sedimentable particulate material in the area of Civitavecchia (North Latium, Central Italy) and the neighboring municipalities in order to understand the potential impact on the territory of the emissions of a coal-fired thermoelectric (CTE) power plant and of the other pressure sources existing in the area

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Metals

Chemometric Approach