Contribution of micro-PIXE to the characterization of settled dust events in an urban area affected by industrial activities

Justino, Ana Rita; Canha, Nuno; Gamelas, Carla A.; Coutinho, Joana T.; Kertész, Zsófia; Almeida, Susana Marta

doi:10.1007/s10967-019-06860-8

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 50 publications

(60 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…USEPA-SPECIATE and SPECIEUROPE databases were used to identify emission sources, selecting source profiles from the steel industry (general and specific processes) and traffic (break and tire wearing, highway vehicles) [54]. Additionally, a comparison was also done with the elemental ratios determined in the settled dust collected in the study area in 2019 [7]. Figure 6A shows a visible high correlation between Fe and Mn concentrations assessed in the exposed lichens (r 2 = 0.80) and a notable association to the steelmaking processes according to the databases of source profiles.…”

Section: Spearman Correlationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To answer the concerns raised by the population, the local Council of Seixal promoted a set of actions, such as the assessment of the chemical composition of the settled dust to determine its sources and potential health hazards [7]. In this previous study, the settled dust was collected in January 2019, characterized by micro-PIXE, and the influence of the steel industries was identified due to the content of Fe, Cr, and Mn, along with a minor traffic influence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Spatial Distribution of Air Pollution, Hotspots and Sources in an Urban-Industrial Area in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal—A Biomonitoring Approach

Abecasis

Gamelas

Justino

et al. 2022

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study aimed to understand the influence of industries (including steelworks, lime factories, and industry of metal waste management and treatment) on the air quality of the urban-industrial area of Seixal (Portugal), where the local population has often expressed concerns regarding the air quality. The adopted strategy was based on biomonitoring of air pollution using transplanted lichens distributed over a grid to cover the study area. Moreover, the study was conducted during the first period of national lockdown due to COVID-19, whereas local industries kept their normal working schedule. Using a set of different statistical analysis approaches (such as enrichment and contamination factors, Spearman correlations, and evaluation of spatial patterns) to the chemical content of the exposed transplanted lichens, it was possible to assess hotspots of air pollution and to identify five sources affecting the local air quality: (i) a soil source of natural origin (based on Al, Si, and Ti), (ii) a soil source of natural and anthropogenic origins (based on Fe and Mg), (iii) a source from the local industrial activity, namely steelworks (based on Co, Cr, Mn, Pb, and Zn); (iv) a source from the road traffic (based on Cr, Cu, and Zn), and (v) a source of biomass burning (based on Br and K). The impact of the industries located in the study area on the local air quality was identified (namely, the steelworks), confirming the concerns of the local population. This valuable information is essential to improve future planning and optimize the assessment of particulate matter levels by reference methods, which will allow a quantitative analysis of the issue, based on national and European legislation, and to define the quantitative contribution of pollution sources and to design target mitigation measures to improve local air quality.

show abstract

Section: Spearman Correlationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Distribution of Air Pollution, Hotspots and Sources in an Urban-Industrial Area in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal—A Biomonitoring Approach

Abecasis

Gamelas

Justino

et al. 2022

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This work aimed to evaluate the temporal evolution of the concentration of the pollutants NO 2 , O 3 , PM 2.5 , PM 10 and SO 2 in an urban-industrial area in Portugal (Paio Pires, Seixal), from 2001 to 2020, and to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the levels of these air pollutants. Moreover, the interest in this specific area is due to the regular complaints of inhabitants regarding local air quality and their worries about the impact of the local industries on air quality [12]. Since local industries kept their regular workflow during the COVID-19 lockdown imposed by national authorities, this particular moment may provide new insights regarding the impact of these industries on the local air quality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of COVID-19 Confinement Measures on the Air Quality in an Urban-Industrial Area of Portugal

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study evaluated the temporal variability of the concentrations of pollutants (namely, NO2, O3, PM2.5, PM10 and SO2) in an urban-industrial area of mainland Portugal during two decades (from 2001 to 2020), to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the levels of these atmospheric pollutants. Mean levels of pollutants in 2020 were compared with those measured in the six previous years (2014–2019). A significant improvement in air quality, namely regarding PM10 and NO2, was found and it can be attributable to the restrictions of anthropogenic activities (such as traffic) promoted during the March–May 2020 national lockdown that occurred due to the pandemic. Significant and expressive reductions of 44.0% and 40.3% were found in April 2020 for NO2 and PM10, respectively, showing the impact of local traffic in the study area. A similar trend of reduction for these pollutants was also found in the following months. However, ozone levels did not show the same trend, with significant increases in several months after the lockdown period, highlighting other contributions to this pollutant. This unique period can be considered as a living lab, where the implementation of strict measures due to COVID-19 confinement promoted the reduction of anthropogenic activities and allowed us to understand more comprehensively their impact on local air quality.

show abstract

“…This factor can also be associated with the lime factory that exists in the industrial area of the study site. It should be mentioned that Fe (32.4%), Ca (26.2%) and Mn (4.62%) were also identified as major components of the settled dust collected in January 2019 in the study area, along with Si (14.9%) and Al (9.67%) ( Justino et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Occasional settled dust events, when houses, cars, plants etc. were covered by dust (coarse particles of a granulometric dimension much higher than PM 10 ) have increased the population's concerns regarding the impacts of the air pollution on their health, leading the local Council of Seixal to promote actions, such as the assessment of the chemical composition of the settled dust to determine its sources ( Justino et al, 2019 ) and an air biomonitoring study using lichens in the area ( Abecasis et al, 2022 ). In both studies, the influence of the steel industries was identified due to the content of Fe, Cr and Mn, along with the traffic influence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Source apportionment of PM2.5 before and after COVID-19 lockdown in an urban-industrial area of the Lisbon metropolitan area, Portugal

Gamelas¹,

Canha²,

Vicente³

et al. 2023

Urban Climate

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Contribution of micro-PIXE to the characterization of settled dust events in an urban area affected by industrial activities

Cited by 6 publications

References 50 publications

Spatial Distribution of Air Pollution, Hotspots and Sources in an Urban-Industrial Area in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal—A Biomonitoring Approach

Spatial Distribution of Air Pollution, Hotspots and Sources in an Urban-Industrial Area in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal—A Biomonitoring Approach

The Impact of COVID-19 Confinement Measures on the Air Quality in an Urban-Industrial Area of Portugal

Source apportionment of PM2.5 before and after COVID-19 lockdown in an urban-industrial area of the Lisbon metropolitan area, Portugal

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About