Ambient air quality and drug aftermaths of the Notte Bianca (White Night) holidays in Rome

Abstract

The environmental impact of Notte Bianca (White Night) holidays held during September 2007 in Rome, Italy, was investigated by measuring aerial concentrations of several genotoxic, psychotropic or source-dependent organic pollutants. Chemical characterization of airborne particulates collected concurrently at Montelibretti RM (semi-rural locality lying ∼30 km NE of Rome centre) was used as a reference. n-Alkanes, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrogen/oxygen-containing polyaromatic compounds (PAC) did not seem to undergo important enhancements during the holiday celebration, whilst recreational drugs peaked downtown (87 vs 41 pg m⁻³, on the average, of cocaine, and 5.0 vs. 2.6 ng m⁻³ of nicotine). By contrast, a simultaneous raising of aerial drugs was not detected at Montelibretti.