A recent analysis carried out in the Rome area showed that automotive metal emissions, mainly due to brake abrasion, have doubled on average compared to those found in the rigorous lockdown period of 2020 for the containment of the Covid 19 pandemic. To understand the importance of these results we interviewed Aldo Winkler, INGV researcher and first author of the study.
Aldo, where does this study start from?
The study was inspired by the broad debate sparked by the modest decrease in PM10 levels in Rome during the lockdown, despite the substantial reduction in vehicular traffic, more than 50%, according to data provided by the Municipality of Rome, Apple, ANAS and companies Teralytics for the newspaper 'La Repubblica'.
Who participated in the research?
The research was conducted by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and by the Lazio Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA Lazio).
What kind of methodology was used?
We compared the magnetic properties of the PM10 filters of the control units for detecting air quality in Lazio, located in various urban and rural areas with different vehicular traffic intensities, during and after the rigorous 2020 lockdown. The magnetic analyzes had a decisive role in distinguishing the natural and anthropic sources of atmospheric particulate matter, demonstrating that stable concentration levels of PM10, such as those found on average during and after the lockdown, can hide important variations in the content of polluting metal particulate due to car traffic.
What have you discovered?
We have discovered that automotive metal emissions are mainly due to brake abrasion and, in areas with intense vehicular traffic, have doubled on average at the end of the most restrictive containment measures, which lasted from 9 March to 18 May 2020, when traffic returned in line with pre-Covid 19 levels. The environmental impact of emissions from brake wear is now surpassing that of fuel particulates, prompting technological and regulatory developments in line with what has been done on engines
What will be the next steps of the research?
Numerous researches and collaborations are foreseen on the subject of the magnetism of dust from atmospheric pollution. In particular, again with ARPA Lazio, further magnetic measurements will be conducted on time series of PM10 filters from control units in Rome and Lazio, with the idea of defining the impact of automotive metal emissions in these months of particularly hectic car traffic.
In addition, the original magnetic biomonitoring investigations of atmospheric pollution with leaves and lichens will continue, aimed at the preservation of cultural heritage, with analyzes carried out on Villa Farnesina, Colle Palatino and Palazzo Farnese, in collaboration with the Accademia dei Lincei, the Colosseum Archaeological Park, École française de Rome and University of Siena, which takes care of the expository and analytical aspects of lichens.
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