Objective: To identify PAH and benzene sources in an industrial area in Genoa, Italy.
Design: Since 1994, airborne concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and benzene and wind directions have been monitored in Genoa, near a steel factory operating very close to urban residences. The coexistence in the area of different potential sources (traffic, domestic heating, coal power plant, airport, sea transport) suggested to develop methods in order to identify main polluting sources. Correlations of pollutant concentrations with wind directions during sampling were used to locate main sources, and differences in PAH chemical composition and toluene/benzene ratio were used to identify the most relevant PAH and benzene source: the coke-oven, operating inside the steel factory.
Results: Results demonstrated high concentrations of BaP (annual mean: 8 ng/m3) and benzene (annual mean: 15 microg/m3).
Conclusion: Significant decrease of pollution (BaP: 0,2 ng/m3, benzene: 2 microg/m3) after the coke-oven closure, confirmed our hypothesis.