Impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown measures on coarse and fine atmospheric aerosol particles (PM) in the city of Rome (Italy): compositional data analysis approach.

In the year 2020, Italy faced a pandemic due to the virus SARS-CoV-2 for short COVID-19. Following this pandemic, a national lockdown period was imposed and throughout the year 2020 various measures were taken by the government to limit the mobility of people and contain the mortality associated with COVID-19. In Italy, pandemic measures led to a reduction in anthropogenic activities and provided an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate the possible effects that restrictions on anthropogenic activities may have on the air quality. Two background site (i.e., Cipro and Cinecittà) and a traffic sites (i.e., Corso Francia) were studied in the city of Rome. PM10 and PM2.5 were considered for the years 2019 and 2020. Moreover, the vehicular mobility, the emission classes of the vehicles, and the people mobility were taken into consideration along with meteorological variables. A compositional data analysis was used to evaluate the effect of pandemic measures on the fine- and coarse-size fractions of PM in the three considered sites. The results showed that in the traffic site (i.e., Corso Francia site) in 2020, there was a reduction of fine-size fraction of PM of about 10% when compared to the data of 2019, whereas in the background site (i.e., Cinecittà site) in 2020 there was an increase of fine-size fraction of PM of about 14% when compared to the data of 2019. No variation in the coarse- and fine-size fractions of PM were observed at the background site Cipro. This study showed how, in an urban context, PM can be influenced by strong changes in people's habits and in vehicular mobility such as those recorded during the investigated period and due to pandemic lockdown measures.

Apportioning PM1 in a contrasting receptor site in the Mediterranean region: Aerosol sources with an updated sulfur speciation.

A multi-parametric experimental campaign was performed in Agri Valley (Basilicata, southern Italy) from July 2017 to January 2018. The investigated area, though basically rural and devoted to agricultural activities, hosts a huge on-shore oil reservoir, i.e. Centro Olio Val d'Agri (COVA), bringing substantial environmental modifications and impacts to the district landscape. Daily concentrations of PM1 aerosol samples, Equivalent Black Carbon and number size distributions were evaluated. Chemical aerosol speciation based on elemental and ion analyses were carried out and source apportionment by Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) was applied to reconstruct PM1 source profile. The most significant emission sources found are torches from the oil treatment facility (37 % w/w), an unresolved factor constituted by soil resuspension, Saharan dust, and biomass burning (24 % w/w), ammonium sulphate (23 % w/w), emissions from the oil desulfurization (Claus process) (13 % w/w), and traffic + road dust (3 % w/w). SEM analysis on PM1 single particles allowed to confirm the finding from PMF including the occurrence of elemental sulfur associated with the Claus process. The novelty of the present study consists in the identification of this latter fingerprint.

A systematic approach for the comparison of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 mass concentrations of characteristic environmental sites.

This study explores the use of a systematic approach in the comparison of simultaneous measurements of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 mass concentrations using Aitchison geometry. Three case studies in three different Asian cities where the PM coarse, fine, and ultrafine size fraction prevail were investigated and the data was displayed using a dedicated triangular diagram. Simultaneous size-segregated PM measurements, for each case study, were assessed in terms of PM ratios and PM10 levels and were compared to similar measurements reported in literature. Non-central chi-squared distribution quantiles, for each case study, were evaluated and used to investigate the degree of similarity between simultaneous size-segregated PM ratios. Likewise, a comparative number k was used to show the proportion between PM10 levels. The issues relating to the location of the simultaneous size-segregated PM ratios on the triangular diagram were examined and the effects of the non-centrality parameter λ on PM comparison were indicated. The results show that the proposed systematic approach can estimate an explorative quantile (i.e., 2.5%) within which the simultaneous size-segregated PM measurements from one site can be compared with simultaneous size-segregated PM measurements from other sites reported in literature highlighting the existence of possible similarities or correspondences in the kind of sources influencing the PM.

Trace elements and human health risks assessment of finer aerosol atmospheric particles (PM1).

The present study investigated PM1 (aerosol particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1.0 µm) mass concentrations and sixteen (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, S, Ti, and Zn) PM1-related trace elements. PM1 samples were collected in an anthropized area of international attention close to oil/gas pre-treatment plants in Agri Valley (Southern Italy). The PM1 mass concentrations varied from 3 to 16 µg/m3. The decreasing pattern of the trace element concentrations was S > Ca > Na > K ≈ Mg ≈ Fe> Al > Li > Cr > Zn > Ti> Cu > Ni ≈ Mn > Pb ≈ Cd. Anthropogenic local emissions such as biomass burning, vehicular traffic, and industrial sources mainly related to oil/gas pre-treatment plants were identified by the principal component analysis. Further, air mass back-trajectory analyses suggest an important contribute to the long-range transport on PM1 at Agri Valley. The carcinogenic (Cd, Cr(VI), Ni, and Pb) and non-carcinogenic (Cd, Cr(VI), Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) health risks both for children and for adults were assessed using the United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) methods considering inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact pathway. Chromium (VI) posed the highest carcinogenic risk for both children and adults. The integrated carcinogenic risks were respectively 3.45 × 10-5 and 1.38 × 10-4 for children and adults indicating that attention should be paid for carcinogenic health effects. Nickel posed the highest non-carcinogenic risk for children through inhalation pathway. The integrated non-carcinogenic risk showed a value higher than 1 highlighting that Cd, Cr(VI), Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn may cause cumulative non-carcinogenic health effect for children from inhalation exposure.

Biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution: a novel approach for the evaluation of natural and anthropogenic contribution to atmospheric aerosol particles.

The investigation of the potential natural and anthropogenic contribution to atmospheric aerosol particles by using lichen-bag technique was performed in the Agri Valley (Basilicata region, southern Italy). This is an area of international concern since it houses one of the largest European on-shore reservoirs and the biggest oil/gas pre-treatment plant (i.e., Centro Olio Val d'Agri (COVA)) within an anthropized context. In particular, the concentrations of 17 trace elements (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Ti, and Zn) were measured in lichen bags exposed in 59 selected monitoring points over periods of 6 months (from October 2011 to April 2012) and 12 months (from October 2011 to October 2012). The general origin of the main air masses affecting the sampling site during the study period was assessed by the back trajectories clustering calculated using the HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. The results allowed the identification and characterization of the crustal material, smoke, sea salt, sulfate, and anthropogenic trace element contributions to the atmospheric aerosol particles in the study area. Finally, the application of the trend surface analysis (TSA) allowed the study of the spatial distribution of the considered contributions highlighting the existence of a continuous broad variation of these contributions in the area of interest.

Soil heavy metal contamination in an industrial area: analysis of the data collected during a decade.

Soil contamination by heavy metals has become a serious problem mainly because, above certain concentrations, all metals have adverse effects on human health. In particular, the accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils leads to elevated uptake by crops and affects food quality and safety. In this paper, we present the results of a study carried out over a decade for evaluating the impact of a new industrial settlement in an area geared to agriculture and livestock and far from urban sites. We focus our study on the bioavailable fraction of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in soil samples. Heavy metal concentrations in soil are analysed with both univariate and multivariate statistical procedures. The main goal of this paper is the development of a statistical procedure, based on a mix of multivariate analysis, able to compare field surveys carried out during different years and to characterize spatial and temporal changes in soil heavy metals concentrations.

Magnetic susceptibility measurements as proxy method to monitor soil pollution: the case study of S. Nicola di Melfi.

The development of in situ, cheep, noninvasive, and fast strategies for soil monitoring is a crucial task for environmental research. In this paper, we present the results of three field surveys carried out in an industrial area of Southern Italy: S. Nicola di Melfi. The monitoring procedure is based on soil magnetic susceptibility measurements carried out by means of experimental protocols that our research group developed during the last years. This field surveys is supported by both geological characterization of the area and analytical determinations of metal concentrations in soils. Magnetic studies were carried out not only in situ but also in laboratory. Results show that, taking into account the influence due to the geomorphologic difference, soil magnetic susceptibility is an optimal indicator of the anthropogenic impact. So, our monitoring strategy discloses that the combined use of magnetic susceptibility measurements and soil geomorphology information may be used as a useful tool for the temporal monitoring of pollution evolution and for a fast screening of polluted zones.

Levels, chemical composition and sources of fine aerosol particles (PM1) in an area of the Mediterranean basin.

Daily samples of fine aerosol particles (i.e., PM1, aerosol particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 1.0mum) were collected in Tito Scalo - Southern Italy - from April 2006 to March 2007. Measurements were performed by means of a low-volume gravimetric sampler, and each PM1 sample was analyzed by means of Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) or Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS and FAAS) techniques in order to determine its content in fourteen trace elements (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Ti and Zn). During the period examined, PM1 daily concentrations ranged between 0.3microgm(-3) and 55microgm(-3) with a mean value of 8 microg m(-3), a standard deviation of 7microgm(-3) and a median value of 6microgm(-3). As far as PM1 chemical composition is concerned, the mean values of the trace element concentrations decreased in the following order: Ca>Fe>Al>Na>K>Cr>Mg>Pb>Ni approximately Ti approximately Zn>Cd approximately Cu>Mn. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) allowed the identification of three probable PM1 sources: industrial emissions, traffic and re-suspension of soil dust. Moreover, the results of a procedure applied to study the potential long-range transport contribution to PM1 chemical composition, showed that trace element concentrations do not seem to be affected by air mass origin and path. This was probably due to the strong impact of the local emission sources and the lack of the concentration measurements of some important elements and compounds that could better reveal the long-range transport influence on PM1 measurements at ground level.

Metal levels in fodder, milk, dairy products, and tissues sampled in ovine farms of Southern Italy.

We measured Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, and Pb levels in samples of fodder, milk, dairy products, and tissues collected from 12 ovine farms in the regions of Campania and Calabria (Southern Italy). The areas in which the farms are located show different levels of anthropogenic pressure. The main purpose of this study is the identification and the analysis of relationships among metal concentrations observed in samples representative of different links in the food chain. Particularly, we apply univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical techniques to identify the correlation structure of our data set and to evaluate the influence of anthropogenic activity. We discuss the results, focusing the analysis on the spatial and the temporal patterns of metal concentrations.

Heavy metals in ryegrass species versus metal concentrations in atmospheric particulate measured in an industrial area of Southern Italy.

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the reliability of ryegrass species as active biomonitors by assessing atmospheric metal concentrations. We show a procedure for measuring atmospheric concentrations of heavy metals by means of biomonitors and present the data collected between July 1997 and October 2000 in the industrial area of Tito Scalo (Basilicata region, Southern Italy). In particular, we discuss the reproducibility of the biomonitoring measures, the influence of plant age and the correlation between metal concentrations in plants and in atmospheric particulate. Statistical analysis of measured data suggests us that in the investigated site, Cd, Cr and Ni are suitable to be monitored by means of ryegrass species. For the other metals, their emission patterns in atmosphere make it difficult to identify the correlation structure between plants and particulate, and as a result the interpretation of the biomonitoring data is complex. On the basis of the results, we believe that for correct application of active biomonitoring procedure, a careful preliminary analysis of the monitoring site and integration of the biomonitoring and chemical-physical observation is necessary.