Assessment of air pollutants contribution of harbour activities in Venice and Brindisi areas

Abstract

The influence of in-port ships emissions to atmospheric pollutants concentration was investigated in the two Adriatic port-cities of Brindisi and Venice, integrating experimental data, modeling and emission inventories. In Brindisi, the contribution to concentration of gaseous pollutants (NO, NO2, SO2 and O3) and of particulate matter (in number and mass) of different sizes (range 0.009-32 µm) was estimated differentiating hotelling (including loading/unloading activities) and manoeuvring (ship arrival/departure) phases. Harbour logistics impact was substantial on concentrations of NO, NO2 and particles number (increased in 2014 compared to 2012) especially in the ultrafine fraction. In Venice multi-year data allowed evaluate the effectiveness of the European legislation (2005/33/EC) and of local mitigation strategies in lowering the primary contribution to PM2.5 although an increased ship traffic.