Atmospheric emission inventories

An atmospheric emission inventory is an organised set of data regarding the amount of pollutants released into the atmosphere by natural and/or antropic activities. The emission inventory is a quantitative estimate generally on yearly basis, of the mass of pollutants that are immitted into the atmosphere. The emissions are typically catalogued depending on the pollutant, the SNAP activity causing the emission, and - possibly - the fuel that has caused the emission. Emissions are also distributed on territorial basis (spatial disaggregation): large point sources (stacks that are responsible of the emission of large quantities of pollutants) and linear (e.g. highways) are easy to locate on the territory; other sources cannot be localised for several reasons (feasibility, cost, ...), and thus are generally assigned to the whole administrative unit they belong (diffuse or area sources). Afterwards, all sources can be attributed to regular grids in order to apply atmospheric dispersion models.

Emissions, again in the context of the use of atmospheric dispersion models, are also distributed in time up to the hourly resolution(temporal disaggregation). Other important activities in the preparation of emission inventories are the chemical speciation of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and the granulometric speciation of particulate matter.
The emission inventory provides important information to evaluate the load of pollutants on different areas. It is also a key information for the application of the atmospheric dispersion models used to evaluate air quality.

Enviroware possesses all the necessary know-how to prepare atmospheric emission inventories, both independently and in partnership with other companies. Emission inventories are made according to the indications contained in the CORINAIR methodology, the European reference, the COPERT 3 methodology for road traffic, the APAT Italian guidelines, the national legislation (for example the Ministry Decree 261/2002) and, if necessary, also using the American methodology AP42.