Spatial distribution of air pollution, hotspots and sources in an urban-industrial area in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal—A biomonitoring approach
- Author:
- Abecasis L., Gamelas C.A., Justino A.R., Dionísio I., Canha N., Kertesz Z. & Almeida S.M.
- Year:
- 2022
- Journal:
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Pages:
- 19: 1364 [20 p.]
- Url:
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031364
This study aimed to understand the influence of industries (including steelworks, lime
factories, and industry of metal waste management and treatment) on the air quality of the urbanindustrial
area of Seixal (Portugal), where the local population has often expressed concerns regarding
the air quality. The adopted strategy was based on biomonitoring of air pollution using transplanted
lichens distributed over a grid to cover the study area. Moreover, the study was conducted during
the first period of national lockdown due to COVID-19, whereas local industries kept their normal
working schedule. Using a set of different statistical analysis approaches (such as enrichment and
contamination factors, Spearman correlations, and evaluation of spatial patterns) to the chemical
content of the exposed transplanted lichens, it was possible to assess hotspots of air pollution and to
identify five sources affecting the local air quality: (i) a soil source of natural origin (based on Al, Si,
and Ti), (ii) a soil source of natural and anthropogenic origins (based on Fe and Mg), (iii) a source
from the local industrial activity, namely steelworks (based on Co, Cr, Mn, Pb, and Zn); (iv) a source
from the road traffic (based on Cr, Cu, and Zn), and (v) a source of biomass burning (based on Br
and K). The impact of the industries located in the study area on the local air quality was identified
(namely, the steelworks), confirming the concerns of the local population. This valuable information
is essential to improve future planning and optimize the assessment of particulate matter levels
by reference methods, which will allow a quantitative analysis of the issue, based on national and
European legislation, and to define the quantitative contribution of pollution sources and to design
target mitigation measures to improve local air quality.
Keywords: air pollution; biomonitoring; transplanted lichens; spatial analysis; urban-industrial area;
steelworks; source apportionment.
- Id:
- 34132
- Submitter:
- zdenek
- Post_time:
- Wednesday, 02 February 2022 10:50