Interpretation of atmospheric pollution phenomena in relationship with the vertical atmospheric remixing by means of natural radioactivity measurements (radon) of particulate matter.
In this paper the results of seasonal monitoring campaign for primary (benzene and carbon monoxide) and secondary (nitrogen dioxide and ozone) pollutants and for the natural radioactivity of the particulate matter in the urban area of Rome, are reported to investigate acute atmospheric pollution episodes. Comparing the daily concentration trends of primary and secondary pollutants with those of the natural radioactivity, considered as index of the vertical diffusion in the low boundary layer, it has been evidenced that the acute pollution episodes in Rome occur in the winter period for the high atmospheric stability (primary pollution) and in the summer period for the strong diurnal atmospheric remixing (secondary pollution).
Avino
Pasquale
P
DIPIA, Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione E la Sicurezza del Lavoro, via Urbana 167, 00145 Roma. pasquale.avino@uniroma1.it
Brocco
Domenico
D
Lepore
Luca
L
Pareti
Salvatore
S
D000392:Air Movements; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons
D000393:Air Pollutants; D010126:Ozone; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D001554:Benzene; D011886:Radon; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide