Record data for dust – Pescara

PESCARA. A cloud of yellowish sand coming from the Sahara desert hit internal Abruzzo, recording peaks of fine and very fine dust (PM10 and PM 2.5). The phenomenon prevented the heat from dispersing, forming a hood which trapped the mass of hot air in the lower layers, accentuating the feeling of stuffiness.
The regional air quality monitoring network, managed by Arta Abruzzo, has recorded in recent days the incursion of “atmospheric particulate matter” characterized by particles with a diameter of 10 and 2.5 micrometres (i.e. one thousandth of a millimetre). In particular, the concentrations were detected in the province of L’Aquila and in the municipality of Teramo: in the first case the control unit that recorded increases well beyond the legal limits was the one in via Amiternum, on the immediate outskirts of the city. The same phenomenon was observed in the Castel di Sangro control unit and in the two fixed stations located in Teramo, in the Gammarana area and in Porta Reale.
The incursion of sand particles from the Sahara had been predicted by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), the European Union program dedicated to monitoring and forecasting air quality. So much so that the foray into the skies of Abruzzo was viewed in advance by Arta technicians using satellite remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems made available by Copernicus.
These fine particles can be raised up to 10 thousand meters altitude and transported for thousands of kilometers, contributing to the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 already present in the atmosphere. The phenomenon has significant consequences for public health.
«The observations we have obtained, also thanks to the use by our technicians of the services offered by Copernicus», declares the general director of Arta Abruzzo, Maurizio Dionisio, «make it clear that we are witnessing, over the years, a significant increase in these phenomena, both in terms of intensity and frequency. It is a fact that leads us to further intensify the monitoring of our atmosphere to understand how the air quality in Abruzzo can worsen in relation to episodes of this type”.
However, weather forecasts indicate that the phenomenon should ease in the next few days, thanks to a change in atmospheric conditions which will favor the dispersion of fine particles. It should be noted that air pollution from desert dust is considered a natural event and that the exceedances caused by this type of sources must not be counted for the purposes of calculating the 35 annual exceedances of the daily average limit set for PM10. However, it is recommended to follow any indications from the health authorities and to monitor the air quality bulletins provided by Arta Abruzzo on its website www.artaabruzzo.it to stay informed on the evolution of the situation. (lc)