Pollutant dispersion study

The dispersion of pollutants is a major problem for the preservation of the environment, whether they are atmospheric or at ground level: modelling the dispersion of pollutants emitted by an installation into the atmosphere makes it possible to quantitatively assess the impact on air quality of an industrial project or an existing activity and to evaluate the risks in the event of a large-scale release of pollutants.

Its objectives are, on the one hand, to map the average concentrations and deposition of pollutants emitted and, on the other hand, to check compliance with regulatory standards.

What is

a pollutant dispersion study?

A pollutant dispersion study is a simulation based on mathematical models that allows estimating the environmental concentration of pollutants emitted by various sources (industrial plants, road traffic, accidental chemical releases) and the way they are dispersed in the atmosphere. They can also be used to predict future concentrations under specific circumstances.

Gas dispersion modelling predicts the movement of pollutant masses under different conditions, continuous discharge, steady state, no wind or a wide range of atmospheric conditions, and therefore allows estimating whether existing or planned industrial installations would comply with the legal requirements that apply to them. It is also a very useful tool in the design of strategies for the reduction of emissions of harmful pollutants and action plans for accidental chemical leaks.

Public administrations require this type of simulations for more and more facilities that generate atmospheric pollutants, both in their project phase and in operation, in order to evaluate their environmental viability and to grant activity permits.

On the other hand, the study of pollutant emissions provides the facilities that carry it out with valuable information on which to base strategic decisions regarding their activity.

The sectors that benefit from the possibilities offered by pollutant dispersion studies are, mainly:

Chemical, pharmaceutical, paper, steel and cement industries.
Consultancy firms (engineering, environmental).
Energy sector (oil companies, power stations, thermal power stations, nuclear power stations, etc.).
Public sector (state, regional, local administration).
Universities and technology parks.
R&D&I departments and companies.

AERMOD model

for pollutant dispersion studies

At Apave we use the AERMOD model to carry out atmospheric emission dispersion studies. Widely used, AERMOD is considered a state-of-the-art model recommended by the US EPA Guideline on Air Quality Models and is included in the so-called "second generation dispersion models" thanks to its advanced treatment of meteorology and the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere.

In particular, we use the environmental modeller for air quality analysis AERMOD View, which incorporates in a single interface the international reference models ISCST3, ISC-PRIME and AERMOD, and which uses three types of input data: topographic, meteorological and emission rates.

Our team of technicians, with extensive experience in the field of environmental monitoring, is at your disposal to provide you with the most rigorous information possible on the impact of your activity and to enable you to make the right decisions.

Solicita información

Discover our other

related services

smoke escaping from several factory chimneys

Control of atmospheric emissions

The emission of pollutants from industrial activities changes the composition of the atmosphere and degrades air quality. The control of gaseous pollutant emissions into the atmosphere has become a major issue for the protection of human health and the environment.
To prevent these risks, regulations have defined discharge limits for certain polluting substances and impose periodic controls.

Calibration of automatic measurement systems (SAM)

Ensuring air quality and measuring pollutant emissions requires perfectly calibrated measuring devices. These devices not only measure atmospheric emissions but also continuously measure the oxygen concentration in the flue gases of boilers and industrial furnaces for combustion control and optimisation.
Pollutants are measured by certified analysers using reference methods. The monitoring methods are adapted according to the expected pollutant levels (fixed measurements, indicative measurements, modelling, objective estimation, etc.).

Management systems consultancy

The implementation of risk control and continuous improvement tools implies the integration of the strategy, resources and operation of an activity, in addition to enabling the integration of environmental and sustainability commitments and safety requirements, among others. All of this generates added value for your organization through improved competitiveness and access to new markets.