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Abstract: The results of this study show the high impact that anthropogenic fugitive emissions of mineral dust have on air quality (levels of PM10, PM2.5 and some metals) in a region in SE Spain named L''Alacantí. This could be extensive to other areas of Europe with similar characteristics. Fugitive emissions, such as those arising from large public construction works, cement and ceramic manufacturing, mining, heavy industries, handling and transport of powdered raw materials and road dust, are very often left out of emission monitoring and inspections in Europe. The comparative study of daily PM10 series in the area shows how the increase of annual average PM10 concentrations over 40μg/m3 is due to extreme episodes occurring in 2006 and 2007, at a regional scale, given the simultaneous recording of PM episodes at distant monitoring sites. The annual average values of the PM10 concentrations were close to or slightly higher than 40μg/m3 (limit value of Directive 2008/50/CE) during 2006–2007 (Alicante-University 39–41, Agost 40–42, Sant Vicent 42–46, Alicante-El Plà 40–42μg/m3). The main PM10 sources in the zone were identified with the assistance of the PMF receptor model. Six common factors were determined, mineral as a main source (37% at Agost and 32% at Sant Vicent), road traffic, secondary sulfate, petroleum coke, sea spray and industry. Mineralogical studies, with XRD and SEM-EDX techniques, support the hypothesis that the highest PM episodes are associated to fugitive emissions of mineral matter. Despite the fact that L''Alacantí region is a heavily industrialized area with two cement plants and a significant number of ceramic manufacturing plants, the fugitive emissions may have accounted for the exceedances of the PM limit values during these two years, part of them caused by the construction of a highway. These results may contribute to the interpretation of prior studies on source apportionment carried out in Southern Europe, with very high loads of anthropogenic dust in PM10 and PM2.5. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The paper shows how PM speciation studies allow the evaluation of the strategies to be followed to diminish PM pollution in highly industrialized areas with a large number of potential pollution sources. Evolution of levels and speciation of PM10 in the ceramic producing area of Castelló (East Spain) was studied from April 2002 until December 2005. PM10 levels were measured at one rural (Borriana-rural), two suburban (Almassora and Onda) and three urban (Borriana-urban, L''Alcora and Vila-real) sites, all influenced by the ceramics industry. Average PM10 levels varied between 27 and 36 μg/m3 for the study period. Evaluation of 1996–2005 PM data from Onda shows a clear decrease of PM levels since the beginning of 2002. Summer peak levels and winter minima occurred at both rural and suburban sites, whereas urban sites had no clear seasonal trend, with high PM10 episodes being due variously to local, regional, and African dust intrusion events. PM10 chemical analysis at four of the sites showed the dominant constituent to be mineral matter, exceeding by 5–12 μg/m3 the usual ranges of annual mineral loadings in PM10 at comparable Spanish urban or regional background sites with no industrial influence. Given current PM10 loadings, we recommend a lowering target of 3–5 μg/m3 of the annual mean at the urban sites, which should be achievable given available emission abatement techniques. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]