Source origin and parameters influencing levels of heavy metals in TSP, in an industrial background area of Southern Italy

In this paper, we investigate the relationships among atmospheric concentration of trace elements and some meteorological parameters. In particular the effects of different meteorological conditions on heavy metal levels are interpreted by means of a multivariate statistical approach. The analysed variables were measured during a monitoring survey that started in 1997, carried out in order to evaluate the atmospheric concentrations of heavy metals in the industrial area of Tito Scalo (Basilicata Region, Southern Italy). Here we present and analyse the data set collected from 1997 to 1999. The data set includes daily concentrations of Total Suspended Particulates (TSP), daily concentrations of eight metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in TSP and daily meteoclimatic data (temperature, rainfall, speed and wind directions). The pattern of all the measured pollutants (concentration level and peak occurrence) agrees with the characteristics of the investigated site (presence of many small and medium industrial plants in a mountainous and unpolluted zone). Regarding the source origin of heavy metals in TSP, the statistical procedure allows us to identify three profiles: SP1 and SP2 related to industrial sources and SP3 related to other sources (natural and/or anthropogenic). In particular, taking into account the effect of different meteorological conditions, we are able to distinguish the contribution of different fractions of the same metal in the detected source profiles.