Key factors for abating particulate matter in a highly industrialized area in N Spain: Fugitive emissions and secondary aerosol precursors

In highly industrialized areas, abating particulate matter (PM) is complex owing to the variety of emission sources with different chemical profiles that may mix in the atmosphere. Gijón-an industrial city in northern Spain-was selected as a case study to better understand the key emission sources and improve air quality in highly industrialized areas. Accordingly, the trends of various air quality indicators (PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and O3) during the past decade (2010-2019) were analyzed. Additionally, the inorganic and organic PM10 compositions were analyzed for source apportionment studies and to assess the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on PM10 levels. The results revealed that over the past decade, PM10 concentrations decreased, whereas PM2.5 concentrations dominated by secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA) remained relatively constant. Notably, during the COVID-19 lockdown, the PM10 concentration increased by 9.1%, primarily owing to an increase in regional SIA (>65%) due to specific meteorological conditions that favor the formation of secondary PM from gaseous precursors. Overall, eight key PM10 sources were identified: "industrial fugitive PM resuspension" (FPM, 28% of mean PM10 concentration), "aged sea spray" (SSp, 16%), "secondary nitrate" (SN, 15%), "local diffuse source" (LPM, 12%), "solid fuel combustion" (SFC, 7.8%), "biomass burning" (BB, 7.4%), "secondary sulphate" (SSu, 6.0%), and "sinter" (SIN, 4.5%). The PM10 concentration in Gijón is significantly influenced by the integrated steel industry (FPM, SFC, and SIN; 41% of PM10) and fugitive primary PM emissions were the main source (FPM and LPM; 40%). To reduce PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations, industrial fugitive emissions, which are currently poorly regulated, and SIA precursors must be abated. This study provides a methodological approach that combines trend analysis, chemical speciation, and source apportionment for assessing pollution abatement strategies in industrialized areas with a complex mix of emission sources.

IDAEA-CSIC is a Centre of Excellence Severo Ochoa (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, grant no. CEX2018-000794-S). The present work was supported by The Spanish Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demografico (MITERD); the RI-URBANS project (Research Infrastructures Services Reinforcing Air Quality Monitoring Capacities in European Urban & Industrial Areas, European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, Green Deal, European Commission, under grant agreement No. 101036245); the “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and FEDER funds under the projects CAIAC (PID2019-108990RB-I00); the Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) under the Project 202030E261; the Generalitat de Catalunya, by AGAUR (2021 SGR 00447) and the Direcció General de Qualitat Ambiental i Canvi Climàtic (DGQACC).

Peer reviewed