Sixteen-year air quality data analysis of a high environmental risk area in Southern Italy

Abstract

The Brindisi area is characterized by the presence of industries with high environmental impact, located along its eastern border. Epidemiological studies have revealed several critical situations: two short-term (2003-2005) epidemiological studies have shown that PM(10) and NO(2) are adversely associated with daily hospital admissions: one of the two pointed to the associations with wind blowing from the southern, eastern and western sectors. This study aims to expand the time span of available air quality data in order to provide a more complete and extensive epidemiological study. Multi-year series (from 1992 to 2007) of SO(2), NO(2), and TSP concentration data are presented and analyzed. Data show a significant downward trend of SO(2) from 1992 to 2007, while for the TSP series, the downward trend is limited to the period 1992-1994. Marked seasonal trends are evident for all three pollutants, especially for NO(2) and TSP. The NO(2) series shows higher levels in winter. Inversely, the TSP series shows its maximum values during the summer months, associated with a moderate correlation with temperature and a poor correlation with other pollutants. Analysis of the series for wind sectors revealed the influence of the industrial site and of the harbor. The concentration series exhibit high concentration values and stronger correlations between them and with meteorology for wind blowing from the eastern sectors. Overall analysis supports the hypothesis of a different origin for TSP during the year and for different wind regimes and therefore possible size and chemical differences in TSP, which should be further investigated due to their health implications.

Congenital anomalies among live births in a polluted area. A ten-year retrospective study

“…Epidemiological studies have revealed several critical situations in terms of increasing rates of mortality and morbidity associated with environmental and occupational exposure to pollutants [8-12]. Recently, an analysis of air quality data carried out for the period 1992–2007 revealed the influence of both the industrial area and the harbor on air pollutant concentration in Brindisi [13]. Very recently, although with imprecision due to broad confidence intervals, standardized mortality ratios for congenital anomalies in all ages were observed to be higher than expected (regional reference) in the period 1995–2001 [14].…”

The Dependence of PM Size Distribution from Meteorology and Local-Regional Contributions, in Valencia (Spain) - A CWT Model Approach

“…Yet, the relationship of PM COARSE with wind speed during cold periods was non significant, while in warm seasons this correlation was significantly positive (Table 4), indicating the impact of wind blown dust (Vardoulakis and Kassomenos, 2008;Buchholz et al, 2014). This interpretation of the results is also supported by the enhancement of the positive correlation between PM COARSE and temperature levels during warm seasons: High temperatures prevailing throughout dry and sunny days, remove the soil's moisture, favoring dust resuspension (Vardoulakis and Kassomenos, 2008;Galindo et al, 2011;Mangia et al, 2011;Buchholz et al, 2014). Finally, the more frequent occurrence of Saharan dust intrusions during the warm seasons of the time interval 2010-2012 (Bilbao et al, 2014), may induce PM COARSE episodes combined with highly elevated temperatures, justifying positive correlations (Galindo et al, 2011;Mangia et al, 2011).…”

“…In the Mediterranean basin, this approach was used in various publications: Poor correlations of PM with gaseous emissions (SO 2 , NO 2 ) in Brindisi (Italy) during summer, in conjunction with positive correlations with temperature, were interpreted as markers of Sahara dust intrusions (Mangia et al, 2011). In Thessaloniki (Greece), positive correlation between particles and NO x provided evidence about higher combustion-related emissions during the cold season, whereas increased contribution of secondary particles was suggested during the warm season (Kassomenos et al, 2011).…”

Secondary Particulate Matter Originating from an Industrial Source and Its Impact on Population Health

“…When anticyclonic conditions affect the central Mediterranean basin, the area is dominated by a north-westerly synoptic wind (more than 50% of total wind events), intensified by the channelling effect of the Otranto Channel separating the south-eastern Italy from Albania. During weak synoptic conditions (less than 20% of total wind events), the region may be influenced by complex sea-land breeze systems caused by the diurnal heating cycle [ 29 ].…”