air quality

Innovative characterization of particulate matter deposited on urban vegetation leaves through the application of a chemical fractionation procedure

In this study, we have evaluated the efficiency of a chemical fractionation procedure for the characterization of both the water-soluble and the insoluble fraction of the main elemental components of particulate matter (PM) deposited on urban leaves. The proposed analytical approach is based on the chemical analysis of leaf washing solutions and membrane filters used for their filtration.

Modeling air quality regulation by green infrastructure in a Mediterranean coastal urban area. The removal of PM10 in the metropolitan city of Naples (Italy)

The amelioration of air quality represents one of the most complex challenges that the European Union is facing today. Although a successful strategy to improve air quality should decisively act on pollution sources, Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) may provide a huge contribution to tackle air pollution, while delivering a wide range of Ecosystem Services and enhancing the Natural Capital.

Influence of LCA procedure on the green building rating tools outcomes

Building energy performance has a key role in the international energy scenario. Labelling procedures have been developed in several countries for certifying the environmental sustainability of buildings, aiming at reducing energy consumptions and environmental impacts. In this study, the impacts of the insulating materials on the energy and environmental performance of a residential building have been analysed.

Survey and solutions for potential cost reduction in the design and construction process of nearly zero energy multi-family houses

While the day in which nearly zero energy buildings is quickly approaching, their construction cost remains higher than minimum requirements' ones, in this framework operates CoNZEBs (Solution sets for the cost reduction of new Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings) Project, funded EU Horizon 2020. This paper explores a critical point identified by the project: potential cost reductions in the design and construction process.

Air quality biomonitoring in an urban and industrial hot-spot of Central Italy

Over the last decades, various scientific studies had underlined the potential of biomonitoring to assess environmental quality. The utilization of organisms as bioindicators have been widely described. Biomonitoring often results to be a low-cost and efficient method for the evaluation of environmental quality in comparison to the definition of a traditional monitoring network. In this study we describe the application of two biomonitoring approaches to assess the air quality of Terni (Central Italy).

Source apportionment of PM10 in Terni (Central Italy) and spatial mapping of atmospheric element concentrations using high spatial resolution chemical data

Very-low volume, low-cost and automatic devices for PM sampling on membrane filters have been employed in Terni, an urban and industrial hot-spot of Central Italy, to evaluate the spatial distribution of PM10 and its main chemical components. The samplers, worked in parallel for 15 months at 23 monitoring sites and PM10 samples were analyzed for PM mass, ions, levoglucosan and water-soluble and insoluble elements.

Air quality assessment in different environmental scenarios by the determination of typical heavy metals and Persistent Organic Pollutants in native lichen Xanthoria parietina

The study was aimed to evaluate the ability of native lichen Xanthoria (X.) parietina to biomonitor and bioaccumulate some heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb), PAHs, PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs and PBDEs and to evaluate the use of the native X. parietina as a multi-tracer tool for scenarios characterized by different anthropogenic pressures. Samples of native X. parietina were collected in six different sites (two green, two residential and two industrial areas, respectively) and analyzed for the target compounds. The results show that X.

Evaluation of the efficiency of Arundo donax L. leaves as biomonitors for atmospheric element concentrations in an urban and industrial area of Central Italy

Washed and unwashed Arundo donax L. (A. donax) leaves were analyzed for elements, and results were compared with element concentrations detected in river water and particulate matter (PM) Samples were collected along a river in an urban and industrial hot spot of Central Italy, where element concentrations show relevant spatial gradients both in air and river water. The aim of this study is to identify the role of the two environmental matrices on leaves composition.

Spatial mapping of PM10 element concentrations in Terni (Central Italy) by using spatially-resolved chemical data

Particulate matter (PM) air pollution represents a major environmental and health issue which largely depends on the type and amount of local emissions in industrial and urban areas. Therefore, the evaluation of the spatial distribution of PM chemical components is fundamental for a reliable identification of emission sources and the assessment of personal exposure.

Air quality biomonitoring in an urban and industrial hot-spot of Central Italy

Particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture of solid and liquid airborne particles, characterized by different size, shape, chemical composition, solubility and origin [1]. The high costs associated to the definition of a traditional monitoring network determine an increasing demand for new and low-cost techniques for air pollution monitoring [2]. In this context, leaves are often described as efficient passive biomonitors for airborne pollutants such as particulate matter [3].

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