engleski

Assessment of dominant sources of air pollution in the vicinity of an oil-refinery

Local sources, the long-range transport of pollution and weather conditions are responsible for pollution levels in air. Receptor models are usually used to estimate the dominant sources of air pollution on an area. For the correct application of receptor models, it is necessary to monitor concentrations of a large number of pollutants for a longer period of time s. Many of these pollutants are not covered by national or international regulations, but they do represent markers for specific air pollution sources. Receptor models transform large numbers of pollutants (variables) to a smaller number of factors representing the dominant air pollution sources. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dominant sources in the city area along the state border near an oil-refinery. Daily samples of PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter were collected from 7 November 2013 to 8 August 2014. These daily samples were analyzed for a total of 30 pollutants which represented the input variables for the receptor model The results of PMF (positive matrix factorization) statistical models indicated five dominant factors, i.e. the dominant sources of pollution. These factors were identified as the following sources: a sulfur source, oil-refinery, transport, metal industry and biomass burning. The sulfur production in the refinery could have been responsible for the sulfur source. High percentages of oil refining markers mass in the second factor are explained by crude oil refinement performed at the refinery. Agricultural crop burning during spring and wood burning in households during winter could explain the biomass burning factor. The highway and a road border crossing are near the research area, so traffic was recognized as one of the dominant sources. Metal and metal processing industries are also located in the study area, and probably account for the dominant source explained by this factor.

oil-rafinery; source apportionment

nije evidentirano