Spatial variability of nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and BTEX and residential exposure of children in the industrial area of Viadana, Northern Italy

Chipboard production is a source of ambient air pollution. We assessed the spatial variability of outdoor pollutants and residential exposure of the paediatric population living in Viadana, in proximity to the largest industry for chipboard production in Italy. We used data on NO2, formaldehyde, and BTEX collected by the regional environmental agency at 25 passive sampling sites during 10 monitoring weeks in 2017-18, and compared passive sampling measurements for NO2 with data from local continuous monitoring stations. We also compared interpolated surfaces of NO2 and formaldehyde with previous maps obtained for 2010. Finally, we compared exposures attributed using these maps to estimates from land use regression models based on routine monitoring data (ELAPSE and EPISAT studies). In 2017-18, the median annual concentration of NO2 in Viadana was 16.0 (Q1-Q3: 12.4-16.6) g/m3. When recalibrated to data from continuous monitors, this figure changed to 26.4 (17.6-27.8) g/m3, suggesting a marked underestimation by passive samplers. The median annual concentration of formaldehyde was 1.6 (1.5-2.0) g/m3. Winter concentrations of benzene and toluene were 1.6 (1.5-1.6) and 2.8 (2.6-3.1) g/m3, respectively. For both 2010 and 2017-18, we observed higher concentrations of NO2 hot-spots in close proximity to the industry. All the models consistently detected a gradient of higher exposure for children living in proximity to the industry. Consistent findings from a variety of exposure metrics, obtained using different methods and input data, highlight that people living in proximity to the industry in Viadana are exposed to an environmental risk that is persisting over time.