CARACTERITZACIÓ QUÍMICA DE L'ATMOSFERA DEL CAMP DE TARRAGONA I AVALUACIÓ DE L'EXPOSICIÓ I EL RISC PER A LA POBLACIÓ

Identifier:  TDX:3158

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX3158

Authors:  Maceira Torrents, Alba

Abstract:
The aim of this Doctoral Thesis is to study the air quality in Camp de Tarragona, an area of particular interest since it is home to one of the largest chemical industry complexes in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Therefore, it intends to deepen in the chemical characterization of the atmosphere of this area and thus, to contribute to increasing the knowledge about the presence of several families of organic pollutants that might be present in these air samples and that have multiple adverse effects on human health. Some examples of these organic pollutants are volatile organic compounds, benzotriazole, benzothiazole and benzenesulfonamide derivatives and different types of plastic additives, such as phthalic and phosphoric acid esters, adipate, antioxidants or UV stabilizers. The developed methods are based on gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and different sampling and preconcentration techniques of the analytes have been applied, depending on whether the air fraction to be analysed was gaseous or particulate. Moreover, by reason of the application of these methods and the concentration of these pollutants found in the atmosphere, an assessment has been carried out on human exposure through the inhalation which the residents of the area might be receiving due to being exposed to the presence of these compounds. Besides, a characterization of the risk these contaminants may pose to human health has been undertaken.