Analysis of 20-year air quality trends and relationship with emission data: The case of Florence (Italy)

Abstract In EU, a significant percentage of urban population is exposed to pollutant concentrations above limit/target values stated by air quality legislation. In Italy, this percentage is even higher: 71% for PM 10 (daily limit value), 58% for O 3 (target value), and 45% for NO 2 (annual limit value). In this paper a 20-year (1993–2012) air quality analysis in the city of Florence (Italy) is reported based on observations from all stations of urban air quality monitoring network. Main atmospheric pollutants have been examined: SO 2 , CO, NO, NO 2 , PM 10 , and O 3 . Actually, Florence is affected by serious air quality problems, with NO 2 , O 3 and PM 10 limit values regularly exceeded in recent years. Trends of annual pollutant concentrations have been analysed to assess the significance of their long-term pattern. Trends of inventory emission data have been related to concentrations through a linear regressive framework to assess the capability of each emission category to control annual concentration trends. As a result, primary pollutants exhibited a significant decrease, while this was poorly significant for secondary species despite remarkable reduction in their precursors emissions. A major role is played by meteorological conditions strongly unfavourable to pollutant dispersion, along with vehicle fleet increase and variation over the years.

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