A case study of municipal solid state waste impacts in South areas of Italy

Methods: Air samples were collected at three landfills for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), located in South-Eastern Italy in Lecce province, during summer 2009. Measurements were focused on evaluation of concentrations of PM10, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Polychlorinated (PCDD/F and PCB), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Benzene, Toluene, Xylene (BTXs). Results: The average PM10 concentrations observed at Burgesi and Nardò landfills were comparable with the average of the territory while PM10 at Cavallino landfill was higher than the typical average. The VOC concentrations showed the predominant occurrence of the limonene and alfa-pynene compounds at all sites. Maximum concentrations of limonene and alfa-pynene were observed at Cavallino landfill. The PCDD/F and PCB concentrations showed significant variabilities among the different sites. It was noted that the average concentrations of the PCDD/F were higher at Nardò landfill. No particular correlations were observed between PCDD/F and PAH concentrations and between PCB and PAH concentrations. Conclusion: These results can be explained considering that PAH, PCDD/F and PCB sources could be different. Another explanation can be that PCDD/Fs and the PCBs are mainly in the particulate fraction instead PAHs are mainly in the gas fraction. The average ratios of BTX concentrations associated to downwind and upwind sectors were significantly larger than 1 for the three gases and for the sites of Burgesi and Nardò. The relevant directionality of BTX concentrations indicates the presence of contributions to the landfills. At last, the toxicity of PAHs was considered evaluating the Equivalent Toxicity Factors (TEFs). The results show that the maximum value of the average BaP equivalent concentration was at Cavallino instead the values observed at Burgesi and Nardò sites were lower and comparable.