Multi-Year Concentrations, Health Risk, and Source Identification, of Air Toxics in the Venice Lagoon

A multi-year study of the Venice Lagoon revealed relatively homogeneous spatial distribution of toxic metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) across three construction sites, with a slight decrease in PAH and PM10 concentrations observed over time. The research, conducted between 2010 and 2015, identified benzo(a)pyrene and dibenzo(A,H)anthracene as the primary contributors to carcinogenic risk, predominantly in particulate phases. The study employed low-volume sequential aerosol samplers for PM10 and high-volume air samplers for PAH analysis, utilizing ICP-MS and GC-HRMS techniques respectively. Diagnostic ratios were calculated to investigate PAH sources, providing critical insights into air quality impacts near construction activities such as the MOSE mobile dams project.

Morabito, E., Gregoris, E., Belosi, F., Contini, D., Cesari, D., & Gambaro, A. (2020). Multi-Year Concentrations, Health Risk, and Source Identification, of Air Toxics in the Venice Lagoon. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2020.00107