Population risk assessment to the atmospheric particulate in Terni area by hight spatial resolution mapping of the sources contribution

PM exposure causes various health problems including premature death in people with heart or lung disease, no fatal heart attack, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, increased respiratory symptoms such as irritation of airways, coughing, or difficulty in breathing. Terni is one of the most polluted urban and industrial areas in Central Italy. Terni is situated in an intramountain depression and is characterized by the presence of urban and industrial PM emission sources such as vehicular traffic, domestic heating, a power plant for waste treatment and a steel plant. The geomorphological and meteorological conditions limit the dispersion and enhance the accumulation of the atmospheric pollutants. Population is exposed for long period to PM and its components, mainly metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Terni is an ideal area to study inhalation risk assessment by PM e its components correlated to sources contribution by the spatial variability. PM concentration and its elemental composition (soluble and insoluble fraction) were measured for the entire year through the acquisition of high spatially resolved data (23 sampling stations in Terni area). Data were elaborated to calculate inhalation risk assessment through accredited algorithms of EPA methodologies for carcinogenic and no carcinogenic metals and for their correlation between different sources and population risks. Risk maps related to the whole urban and industrial area were obtained for children and adult population.Data show risks for the resident population of adults and children exposed for long period to carcinogenic and no carcinogenic metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) contained in particulate matter and a correlation with main emissive sources (vehicular traffic, domestic heating and industrial emission sources). The results permitted to correlate the concentrations measured with exposure risk (adults and children) to atmospheric pollution in Terni area. They proved the efficiency of the new experimental procedure elaborated for inhalation risk assessment of the spatial variability of PM10 components (carcinogenic and no carcinogenic metals) through the acquisition of spatially resolved annual data and the correlation between main emission sources.