Modelling of VOC air pollution in an urban area

For several years the Department of Mechanical, Nuclear and Production Engineering (DIMNP) of the University of Pisa and the Regional Agency for Environment Protection of Tuscany (ARPAT) have collaborated in research on the environmental pollution of our Region. One of the more critical situations with respect to atmospheric pollution is that of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in the city of Livorno, resulting from the presence of an important oil refinery, other industries and traffic pollution. Other important VOC emission sources are related to port activities and to numerous small companies using solvents and paints. This emission scenario suggested the choice of ISC3 code to treat diffuse sources and CALINE 4 for emissions related to traffic on main roads. After discussion of the VOC sources in the Livorno area, the paper focuses on the results of the study. The need for other experimental data for a better characterization of the area is also discussed, as well as the suitability of this methodology to areas with similar characteristics.