# DPSIR Model Applied to the Remediation of Contaminated Sites. A Case Study: Mar Piccolo of Taranto
## 5 Pressures
### Air Pollution  
The results of the Regional Air Quality Plan of the Apulia Region, drawn up by ARPA [36] and the monitoring of sedimentable dust carried out by the provincial department ARPA of Taranto have shown that in the Province of Taranto the atmosphere is subject to considerable pressures, such as production activities, demographic concentration, and transports. The point emissions can also produce, through diffusion phenomena, an impact on a large scale on the quality of water and soil (through fallout), on the health of the population, on the development of fauna and vegetation, and the state of cultural heritage.  
An air pollution assessment study was conducted by [PERSON] et al. [23] for the most relevant emission sources located in the area of Taranto, as shown in Figure 5a.  
SO\({}_{2}\), NO\({}_{\rm x}\), CO, and primary PM10 concentration fields were calculated by means of the 3D Lagrangian particle dispersion model (SPRAY) model for the studied area covering both winter and summer seasons. Results are shown in Figure 5b, highlighting the extension of the impact of emitted pollutants to a large area of the local territory, including the First Inlet of Mar Piccolo. This study indicated a prevailing contribution of industrial activities on the estimated ground concentrations of SO\({}_{2}\) and PM10. NO\({}_{\rm x}\) contribution pointed out a more diffuse responsibility, with industry and traffic sources mainly involved, followed by domestic heating and port activities. Because of the diffusion phenomena, Taranto is considered an area at high risk of environmental crisis, where the high concentration of industries has produced substantial emissions into the atmosphere, with a significant excess of mortality for lung and pleuric tumors [37].  
Furthermore, during the last few years, several exceedances of PM10 and benzo(a)pyrene limit values were recorded in Taranto city. A study of these critical pollution events showed a close correlation with the wind coming from the industrial site to the adjacent urban area [38]. In fact, the wind action can presumably contribute to bring air pollutants towards the Mar Piccolo area. [PERSON] et al. [38] showed that at least 65% of PM10 exceedances at monitoring sites, close to the industrial area, were related to wind day conditions (with at least 3 consecutive hours of wind coming from 270-360 \(\pm\) 2 deg. with an associated speed higher than 7 m/s). Consequently, in 2012 an integrated environmental permit and a regional air quality plan were enacted to reduce pollutant emissions from the industrial plants [39].  
More recent investigations have demonstrated the efficacy of the regional measures with a decrease in air pollution concentration in the Taranto area [40,41].  
However, studies about the direct correlation between air pollutants and fall out into Mar Piccolo water are still missing.  
Figure 5: **(a)** Map of the studied area with a large and zoomed view showing location (UTM 33 [Km]) of the monitoring stations and the main industrial harbor and urban areas. **(b)** Average concentration maps of NOx; SO\({}_{2}\), and primary PM10, predicted by the SPRAY model in winter and summer seasons [23].