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Postolachi C, Cocean A, Garofalide S, Munteanu BS, Cocean G, Cimpoesu N, Pelin V, Cocean I, Gurlui S. Urban Exotic Pollution: The Harmful Environmental Footprint for Health and Historical Architecture. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4715. [PMID: 36981619 PMCID: PMC10049094 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20064715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The study in this paper was carried out as a result of the observation of pollution phenomena and foaming effects associated with anthropogenic activities, including street cleaning activity. The processes of dust binding used in order to reduce PM10 and PM 2.5 pollution has been proven to be inefficient, and even contributing to pollution with particulate matter. Our results suggest that the use of dust binders must be integrated in a technique that includes methods of removing agglomerated particle structures resulting from the process of coagulation or flocculation. These are the conclusions of the investigations carried out by spectroscopic methods (FTIR, SEM-EDX) on samples collected from the streets of Iasi on 10 March 2021, and on samples collected from the surface of the Precinct Wall of the historical monument Golia-Iasi Monastery Ensemble (Romania). On the later samples, coloristic analysis was also performed. The alert for investigation was given by the foaming waters that were leaking on the streets. The phenomenon was observed after the streets had been washed by specialized vehicles. Analyses revealed compounds used as dust binders and coagulant type (aluminum sulfate, sodium aluminate and their derivatives, plus anti-skid chemicals such as calcium chlorine and magnesium chlorine), as well as organic compounds included in aggregate type structures, and they showed contamination of the Golia Precinct Wall. The results show that the dust binders or coagulants used as such, or embedded in various products intended for the cleaning process of streets or other outdoor public places, must be subject to regulation. Otherwise, there is a risk of adding more pollutants during an operation with the opposite purpose. The migration of these pollutants on the studied building offers an image on how both our health and all constructions and equipment exposed in the open air are affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Postolachi
- Atmosphere Optics, Spectroscopy and Laser Laboratory (LOASL), Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bld., 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Alexandru Cocean
- Atmosphere Optics, Spectroscopy and Laser Laboratory (LOASL), Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bld., 700506 Iasi, Romania
- Laboratory of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, A Building, Physics, Research Center with Integrated Techniques for Atmospheric Aerosol Investigation in Romania, RECENT AIR, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Silvia Garofalide
- Atmosphere Optics, Spectroscopy and Laser Laboratory (LOASL), Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bld., 700506 Iasi, Romania
- Laboratory of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, A Building, Physics, Research Center with Integrated Techniques for Atmospheric Aerosol Investigation in Romania, RECENT AIR, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Bogdanel Silvestru Munteanu
- Atmosphere Optics, Spectroscopy and Laser Laboratory (LOASL), Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bld., 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Georgiana Cocean
- Atmosphere Optics, Spectroscopy and Laser Laboratory (LOASL), Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bld., 700506 Iasi, Romania
- Rehabilitation Hospital Borsa, 1 Floare de Colt Street, 435200 Borsa, Romania
| | - Nicanor Cimpoesu
- Atmosphere Optics, Spectroscopy and Laser Laboratory (LOASL), Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bld., 700506 Iasi, Romania
- Faculty of Material Science and Engineering, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, 59A Mangeron Bld., 700050 Iasi, Romania
| | - Vasile Pelin
- Atmosphere Optics, Spectroscopy and Laser Laboratory (LOASL), Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bld., 700506 Iasi, Romania
- Laboratory of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, A Building, Physics, Research Center with Integrated Techniques for Atmospheric Aerosol Investigation in Romania, RECENT AIR, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Iuliana Cocean
- Atmosphere Optics, Spectroscopy and Laser Laboratory (LOASL), Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bld., 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Silviu Gurlui
- Atmosphere Optics, Spectroscopy and Laser Laboratory (LOASL), Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I Bld., 700506 Iasi, Romania
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