title: Influence of transport from urban sources and domestic biomass combustion on the air quality of a mountain area.
abstract: The environmental influence of biomass burning for civil uses was investigated through the determination of several air toxicants in the town of Leonessa and its surroundings, in the mountain region of central Italy. Attention was focussed on PM10, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and regulated gaseous pollutants (nitrogen dioxide, ozone and benzene). Two in-field campaigns were carried out during the summer 2012 and the winter 2013. Contemporarily, air quality was monitored in Rome and other localities of Lazio region. In the summer, all pollutants, with the exception of ozone, were more abundant in Rome. On the other hand, in the winter, PAH concentration was higher in Leonessa (15.8 vs. 7.0 ng/m3), while PM10was less concentrated (22 vs. 34 μg/m3). Due to lack of other important sources and to limited impact of vehicle traffic, biomass burning was identified as the major PAH source in Leonessa during the winter. This hypothesis was confirmed by PAH molecular signature of PM10(i.e. concentration diagnostic ratios and 206 ion mass trace in the chromatograms). A similar phenomenon (i.e. airborne particulate levels similar to those of the capital city but higher PAH loads) was observed in other locations of the province, suggesting that uncontrolled biomass burning contributed to pollution across the Rome metropolitan area.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petracchini
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paciucci
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vichi
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imperiali
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy. v.paolini@iia.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paolini
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liotta
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cecinato
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000531:Altitude; D018533:Biomass; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D012621:Seasons; D014186:Transportation; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
keywords: Air pollution; Biomass burning; Diffusive sampling; Molecular signatures; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Source apportionment