Air pollution mapping in the Wilaya of Annaba (NE of Algeria)

Abstract

Poor air quality can pose severe risks to human health and can also influence negatively on the natural environment. Annaba suffers from air pollution due to the industrial activities occurring in the province including, electricity generation, waste incineration, chemistry and other small additional industrial operations. However, mining, steel industry and metallurgy are considered among the most polluting activities. The aim of our research is to assess the risks of air pollution emissions with NO2, SO2, Toluene and Benzene as a result of industrial enterprises activities in Annaba province. The application of geographical information system (GIS) mapping based on automatic monitoring networks of air quality, allows us the assessment of air pollution risks in the studied area. Two zones of air pollution with N02 in the level of 1 MPC has been recorded near the blast furnaces and the steel shop, the second halo of NO2 pollution was fixed over residential infrastructures. Moreover, revealed a tendency to higher content of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere of the bigger part of Annaba region. Corresponding to the data obtained from stationary monitoring networks, the annual average concentration of SO2 was significantly lower than the MPC. Based on GIS maps there are two areas with SO2 pollution inside the territory of El Hadjar metallurgical plant. A significant increase in concentrations of NO2 in the atmosphere of the industrial areas was recorded in the first decade. On average during three years the highest content of technogenic dust was detected in El Bouni.