The effect of the harbour on polyciclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentration in the port-cities of Venice and Brindisi

Emissions of exhaust gases and particles from ships can affect significantly the chemical composition of the atmosphere, local and regional air quality and climate. Among the different chemicals from ship emissions polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) play an important role. Because of their low reactivity PAHs can persist in the environment for a long time: they have been discovered also in the Arctic and in Antarctica. A bioaccumulation of these substances can cause adverse effect on human health, such as reproductive and immune effects, developmental anomalies and cancer. In this work, the direct effect of ship traffic on PAHs concentration has been evaluated through a new method that involves the use of two high-volume samplers: one of them collected air from all directions; the other one was programmed to activate only when the wind was blowing from the harbour area. From the compared results from the two samplings, information about the effect of the harbour on the global PAHs concentration can be obtained. This method has been applied in two port-cities in Italy, in which the harbour is very close to the built-up area: Venice and Brindisi. Two kind of coefficient have been calculated: ? represent the local effect in the sampling point, with the climatic conditions (wind direction and intensity) that affect the area during the sampling period; ? correspond to the general effect of the harbour. Results showed a harbour influence both in Venice and in Brindisi.