Roberto Salzano

Improved Time-Resolved Measurements of Inorganic Ions in Particulate Matter by PILS-IC Integrated with a Sample Pre-Concentration System

A particle-into-liquid sampler coupled with ion chromatograph (PILS-IC) for the on-line measurement of inorganic ions has been modified by the insertion of two ion-exchange pre-concentration cartridges that enrich the sample during the period of the IC analysis. The limits of detection of the modified instrument were 10-15 times lower and the time coverage 24 times higher (from 2 to 48 min per hour) than those of the original PILS-IC setup. The instrumental performance in terms of recovery and break-through volume from the cartridges was satisfactory. The modified PILS-IC was operated in comparison with a diffusion denuder line and with a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-TOF-AMS) during a short intensive measurement period organized in the framework of the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP), a co-operative program for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transmission of the air pollutants in Europe. The instrument showed a quantitative response in agreement with the results of the diffusion lines, and an ability to trace fine concentration variations not so different from the performance of the much more complex HR-TOF-AMS. From the time patterns of the ion concentrations measured by the modified PILS-IC, it was possible to obtain useful information about the variations in the air quality and in the strength of the particulate matter sources. Copyright 2015 American Association for Aerosol Research

Quantitative Interpretation of Air Radon Progeny Fluctuations in Terms of Stability Conditions in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Determining the mixing height using a tracer can improve the information obtained using traditional techniques. Here we provide an improved box model based on radon progeny measurements, which considers the vertical entrainment of residual layers and the variability in the soil radon exhalation rate. The potential issues in using progeny instead of radon have been solved from both a theoretical and experimental perspective; furthermore, the instrumental efficiency and the counting scheme have been included in the model. The applicability range of the box model has been defined by comparing radon-derived estimates with sodar and lidar data. Three intervals have been analyzed (“near-stable”, “transition” and “turbulent”), and different processes have been characterized. We describe a preliminary application case performed in Rome, Italy, while case studies will be required to determine the range limits that can be applied in any circumstances.

Modeling Radon Behavior for Characterizing and Forecasting Geophysical Variables at the Atmosphere–Soil Interface

As well known, noble gases are often used as stable tracers in several geophysical environments, due to their basic property of being chemical noninteracting. Among these noble gases, the attention of researchers in the last decades has been focused on radon.

Planning Air Pollution Monitoring Networks in Industrial Areas by Means of Rremote Sensed Images and GIS Techniques

Air pollution and its impact have become one of the most important challenge for public authorities. The quantification of emissions as well as their spatial distribution are essential for any air quality program (Aleksandropoulou & Lazaridis, 2004; Sengupta et al., 1996). The selection of the location of monitoring stations is one of the most complex task that occurs in designing air monitoring networks. Several issues, as the harmful effects of pollution on both human health and environment, must be taken into account (Allegrini et al., 2004). The European directive 2008/50/CE of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air provides criteria about monitoring network. This directive has been issued in order to improve, clarify, simplify and replace the precedents five acts: • Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management; • Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and lead in ambient air; • Directive 2000/69/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air; • Directive 2002/3/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2002 relating to ozone in ambient air and; • Council Decision 97/101/EC of 27 January 1997 establishing a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring ambient air pollution within the Member States. The Directive 2008/50/CE also introduces new air quality objectives and monitoring requirements for PM2.5. In addition to that the EU directive determines criteria for positioning monitoring stations, taking into account a detailed evaluation of environmental features on both local and regional scale. These objectives can be pursued by territorial analysis, which can be performed using a Geographic Information System (GIS). GIS is a computer-based information system that enables storing, modelling, manipulation, retrieval, analysis and presentation of geographically referenced data (Burrough, 2001). In particular this powerful tool allows a