Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

CONTAMINANT TRANSFER BETWEEN SOIL-ATMOSPHERE INTERFACE. ATMOSPHERE QUALITY IN A LOW POLLUTED AREA OF NORTH-EAST ITALY

G. Perin, A. Giacometti and T. Meduri

Abstract

Heavy metal and PAH soil pollution delivered by atmospheric depositions were monitored for 12 months within an industrial area located between the towns of Possagno and Castelcucco (both close to Treviso City, northern Italy). We did not distinguished between dry and wet atmospheric depositions and collected them altogether, so that all samples contained both. After sample filtration, residues left on the filter were made of particulate and dissolved by acidic attack while the filtrates were aqueous phases. Both fractions were analyzed separately, but metals were analyzed in the aqueous phase only. Results were compared with literature data on compost. Atmospheric deposition contribution to the overall soil pollution resulted to be negligible with respect to that of compost normally administered as a “safe” fertilizer. Large data variability occurring when dealing with either atmospheric kinds of depositions (which mainly depends on meteoric conditions and emission typology) did not impair such conclusion. Amongst PAH, fluoranthene confirms to be the most abundant in either fractions, almost always followed by phenanthrene and anthracene. PAH detected in the particulate fractions were not originated by house heating but by road traffic. Among metals, Zn2+ dominates in the Possagno industrial area, while Pb presence was low and might have come from road traffic. Overall dustfall contamination was low, even if PAH presence can be underestimated when the road traffic contribution is not taken into account. No correlation seems to exist between industrial activity and the large majority of the air quality parameters monitored by us.