Pollutants

Responsabile dello studio modellistico:

Roberta De Maria – Dipartimento Tematico Rischi Naturali e Ambientali di Arpa Piemonte

Responsabile del monitoraggio deposizioni mercurio:

Carlo Bussi – Dipartimento territoriale del Piemonte Nord Ovest di Arpa Piemonte

Objectives

Use of the incinerator monitored emission data to update and expand the dispersion modelling survey performed in the ambient background study realized before the plant startup, to evaluate its impact on air quality and soil depositions.

Study design

1. Meteorological reconstruction with a 3D diagnostic model on three years (probably 2016, 2017, 2018) over the plant area
2. Emission data analysis of the plant during the simulation years in order to calculate the input emission data for the dispersion model
3. Air quality and soil deposition modelling with the lagrangian particle model SPRAY for each of the three years, using the input emissions above defined (study item b). The dispersion modelling will provide, for each year of simulation and with hourly resolution, an estimate of air concentrations and soil depositions of pollutants and micropollutants (including PAHs, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins [PCDDs] and dibenzofurans [PCDFs]) considered as not chemically reactive (primary pollutants). Concentration maps describing the levels for the indicators foreseen by the air quality legislation will be produced. The impact of possible peak emissions during the simulation period may also be investigated  and mean concentrations over the three years may be calculated, with the aim of partially limiting the influence of meteorological and emissive conditions of each year on the results
4. The CTM FARM dispersion model will be applied to a single year (2017 or 2018) to update the results of the modelling survey performed in the ambient background study, using as input the corresponding plant emissions and the most recent data from IREA (Regional Atmospheric Emission Inventory); these activities will give an idea of the plant contribution to secondary atmospheric pollutants
5. Based on the results obtained in points c and d, it will be possible to make a general estimate of the plant contribution both on the computational domain and at the air quality and atmospheric deposition monitoring sites

Expected outcome

These activities will allow for:

• Reconstructing three years of plant operation (presumably 2016-2018)
• Evaluate soil depositions
• Quantify the plant contribution to secondary atmospheric pollutants
• Evaluate the plant contribution at the air quality and soil deposition monitoring sites

These activities will allow for evaluating the real impacts of the plant emissions, a better understanding of their influence on air quality and will provide data for epidemiological studies.