Estimation of PM10-bound manganese concentration near a ferromanganese alloy plant by atmospheric dispersion modelling

Numerous studies have associated air manganese (Mn) exposure with negative health effects, primarily neurotoxic disorders. This work presents a description of the emission and dispersion of PM10-bound Mn from industrial sources in the Santander bay area, Northern Spain. A detailed day-specific emiss...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Otero Pregigueiro, Daniel Alberto, Hernández Pellón, Ana María|||0000-0003-2004-9453, Borge García, Rafael, Fernández Olmo, Ignacio|||0000-0001-6096-5160
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Cantabria (UC)
Repositorio:UCrea Repositorio Abierto de la Universidad de Cantabria
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unican.es:10902/15840
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10902/15840
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Mn sources
Ferromanganese alloy plant
CALPUFF
Industrial emissions
Air quality modelling
Descripción
Sumario:Numerous studies have associated air manganese (Mn) exposure with negative health effects, primarily neurotoxic disorders. This work presents a description of the emission and dispersion of PM10-bound Mn from industrial sources in the Santander bay area, Northern Spain. A detailed day-specific emission estimation was made and assessed for the main Mn source, a manganese alloy production plant under 8 different scenarios. Dispersion analysis of PM10-bound Mn was performed using the CALPUFF model. The model was validated from an observation dataset including 101 daily samples from four sites located in the vicinities of the manganese alloy plant. Model results were in reasonable agreement with observations (r= 0.37; NMSE= 2.08; Fractional Bias= 0.44 and Modelled/Observed ratio = 1.57). Simulated and observed Mn concentrations in the study area were much higher than the guidelines proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), highlighting the need to reduce the Mn concentrations in the area. Based on the analysis of the Mn source contribution from the ferromanganese alloy plant, some preventive and corrective measures are discussed at the end of the paper. This work shows that CALPUFF dispersion model can be used to predict PM10-bound Mn concentrations with reasonable accuracy in the vicinities of industrial facilities allowing the exposure assessment of the nearby population, which can be used in future epidemiological studies.