Behavior of Non-Conventional Contaminants in the Closed Valleys

Air Quality Laboratory CALAIRE, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia

Abstract: In this research non-conventional pollutants (BTX) behavior in closed valleys is analyzed by consolidating information from different monitoring campaigns carried out in the 2006-2007, 2011-2012, and 2015-2016 periods, defined in three work zones given the topographic characteristics of the Aburrá Valley located in the department of Antioquia (Colombia); southern zone, central zone and northern zone. Sampling was carried out using passive sensors and the location and height of the sampling points were selected according to the requirements established by the European standard UNE EN 13528-3 (AEN/CTN, 2004). The northern zone presented the lowest concentrations for the three pollutants, followed by the southern zone, and increased in the central zone where there is a higher vehicular traffic, evidencing higher values for benzene and lower values for xylenes and toluenes; this pattern may be given by the topographical features of the valley, the local land morphometric parameters, traffic flow and possibly contaminant leaching since winds go generally north-south direction.