Temporal assessment of Gross alpha emissions from the petroleum industry in Tenerife, Canary Islands (2001–2022)

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2024-09, Vol.368, p.122104, Article 122104
• Main Authors: Salazar-Carballo, Pedro A., Catalán-Acosta, Antonio, Hernández, Francisco, López-Pérez, María
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols - analysis; Autoregressive integrated moving average; Empirical decomposition method; Environmental Monitoring; Gross alpha; Multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis; Oil and Gas Industry; Petroleum; Refinery; Spain; Wavelet analysis
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122104

A ca. 76% decrease in gross alpha activity levels, measured in surface aerosols collected in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain), has been explained in the present study in connection with the reduction of activities, and eventual closure, of an oil refinery in the city. Gross Alpha in surface aerosols, collected at weekly intervals over a period of 22 years (2001–2022), was used for the analysis. The dynamic behaviour of the gross alpha time series was studied using statistical wavelet, multifractal analysis, empirical decomposition method, multivariate analysis, principal component, and cluster analyses approaches. This was performed to separate the impact of other sources of alpha emitting radionuclides influencing the gross alpha levels at this site. These in-depth analyses revealed a noteworthy shift in the dynamic behaviour of the gross alpha levels following the refinery's closure in 2013. This analysis also attributed fluctuations and trends in the gross alpha levels to factors such as the 2008 global economic crisis and the refinery's gradual reduction of activity leading up to its closure. The mixed-model approach, incorporating multivariate regression and autoregressive integrated moving average methods, explained approximately 84% of the variance of the gross alpha levels. Finally, this work underscored the marked reduction in alpha activity levels following the refinery's closure, alongside the decline of other pollutants (CO, SO2, NO, NO2, Benzene, Toluene and Xylene) linked to the primary industrial activity in the municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. [Display omitted] •A time series of Gross Alpha data spanning 22 years (weekly intervals) is presented.•The dynamic and temporal evolution are investigated using various approaches.•Gross Alpha are correlated with the temporal evolution of the oil refinery industry.•Gross Alpha activity was reduced ca. 76% following the refinery's closure.•Strong correlations were identified with other industrial contaminants.