Document Type : ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Authors

1 Arpa Puglia, C.so Trieste 27 IT-70126 Bari, Italy

2 Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Bari, via Orabona 4- IT-70125 Bari, Italy

3 Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Via Orabona 4, IT-70125 Bari, Italy

Abstract

During the last years, several exceedances of PM10 and benzo(a)pyrene limit values exceedances were recorded in Taranto, a city in southern Italy included in so-called areas at high risk of environmental crisis because of the presence of a heavy industrial district including the largest steel factory in Europe. A study of these critical pollution events showed a close correlation with the wind coming from the industrial site to the adjacent urban area. During 2011, at monitoring sites closes to the industrial area, at least the 65% of PM10 exceedances were related to wind day conditions (characterized by at least 3 consecutive hours of wind coming from 270-360±2deg with an associated speed higher than 7 m/s). For this reason, in 2012 an integrated environmental permit and a regional air quality plan were enacted to reduce pollutant emissions from industrial plants. A study of PM10 levels registered during windy days was performed during critical episodes of pollution highlighting that the difference between windy days and no windy days’ concentrations reduces from 2012 to 2014 in industrial site. False negative events (verified ex-post by observed meteorological data) not identified by the forecast model - did not show a significant influence on PM concentration: PM10 values were comparable and sometimes lower than windy days levels. It is reasonable that the new scenario with a relevant reduction emissions form Ilva plant reduced the pollutants contribution from industrial area, contributing to PM10 levels decrease, also in false negative events.

Graphical Abstract

Effect of the Apulia air quality plan on PM10 and benzo(a)pyrene exceedances

Highlights

  • Several PM10 and benzo(a)pyrene limit value exceedances were recorded in Taranto
  • Critical pollution events showed a close correlation with wind conditions, encouraging the pollutants transport from the industrial site to the adjacent urban area
  • Apulia Government adopted the regional air quality plan to reduce by 10% B(a)P and PM10 emissions by diffuse and point sources respect to mean daily values
  • The number of PM10 exceedances and BaP concentration decreases in industrial site after the plan enaction

Keywords

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