Particulate matter emissions from a bauxite residue basin and impact assessment on air quality

摘要

The article deals with the emission of fugitive dust from a major bauxite residue basin locatedin the southwest of Sardinia, where the prospect of a change in the storage practices is likelyto increase particulate matter pollution in the surrounding region. Other natural andanthropogenic sources already contribute variable amounts of airborne dust in the area. Inaccordance with the procedures established by the Directive 2011/92 of the EuropeanParliament (EIA Directive - Environmental Impact Assessment), the data recorded by amonitoring network located in the Sulcis-Iglesiente sub-region has been taken intoconsideration in order to define the ante-operam condition of the potential impact area. Theadditional contribution of the red mud basin has been simulated with the atmosphericdispersion model proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The expected totalconcentration of PM10, which includes both the pre-existing sources and the additionalcontribution from the red mud basin, has been estimated and compared with the limit valuesestablished by the Directive 2008/50/EC (Ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe).