Research activities on nuclear safety have been carried out since 60.ies years at the Nuclear Engineering Institute, at present part of DIMNP. This permitted the setting-up of evaluation methods and calculation tools applied also to several non nuclear activities. In particular, the studies on atmospheric pollutant dispersion, for neutral and heavy gases, have to be outlined. They allow to evaluate pollutant concentrations as distributed on the terrain, as well as related consequences on human beings and environment (soil deposition, etc.). Some of these tools are original from DIMNP.
Knowledge and calculation tools have been acquired also with regard to pollution phenomena of water and soil, noise, etc.
The set of these knowledge and tools, together with specific instruments for the experimental investigation of environmental characteristics, allows the identification and quantification of impacts due to the operation of industrial plants. They have been applied to nuclear reactors, geothermal and chemical plants, waste incinerators, etc., evaluating also the effects of possible protection measures.
The possibility of evaluating the effects of industrial activities on various environmental factors has been allowed to set-up an original Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) methodology, named SITO 2.
SITO 2 METHODOLOGY
It presents EIA as a function of spatial (using the GIS ArcView) and time dimensions. This permits the comparison of different design solutions for the same activity located in a given site, or the optimization of the plant siting, taking into account environmental characteristics.
Recently, several studies have been carried out in this field, among which have to be mentioned:
- ISC3 application to the problem of atmospheric pollution (VOC, PM10) in the areas of Livorno, Piombino and Carrara;
- CALINE 4 application and experimental validation with regard to traffic contribution to VOC pollution in Livorno urban area;
- Studies on quality of superficial water at Livorno, as well as on the situation of the water-table in “Val di Cornia” (Piombino);
- Definition of criteria for analysis and evaluation of possible interventions for environmental recovery in areas at industrial risk.

Contact person
Prof. M. Mazzini E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it