Microorganic pollutants in the outskirts of Rome

A short field campaign was performed in the outskirts of Rome at four sites located pretty along the four rose wind directions to city centre. Both chlorinated (PCB and PCDD/F) and non-chlorinated (n-alkanes, PAH, nitrated-PAH, n-alkanoic acids) organic micropollutants were investigated for their contents in the atmosphere. The concentration levels reached were compared to those found in downtown Rome and in a large city park. Although their concentrations were lower, however some health risk could be induced by organic pollution outside Rome. Rural sites were less polluted than industrial and waste disposal/treatment areas.