Abstract

     Atmospheric particles can come from natural or anthropological sources. They can 
produce a series of negative effects on human health, environment, climate, visibility, 
materials of construction etc. widely studied and documented.
     In the province of Castellón, in an area of approximately 300 km2 there are located 
more than 200 companies involved in the ceramic sector. 94% of Spanish ceramic 
production is concentrated in this area, accounting for 43% of the whole European 
production.
     Since 2005 there is an agreement between the City of Alcora and the University 
Jaume I of Castellón in order to track pollution in two different locations, one in the 
industrial area and one in the city center. This tracking refers to the tracking of both 
levels, PM10 and PM2,5 and the chemical composition (contents of nickel, cadmium, 
arsenic and lead in PM10 and PM2,5) of the material sampled.
     The experience and data obtained from that agreement led to set as the central 
theme of this work the study of pollution levels and the chemical composition regarding 
regulated elements (Ni, Cd, As y Pb) of atmospheric particles on both stations of Alcora, 
its evolution between 2006 and 2010 and its correspondence and degree of law 
compliance with the levels measured by the Conselleria in the rest of locations of the 
ceramic cluster during the same period. 
     Moreover, we have selected a number of samples of PM10 and PM2,5 in the 
industrial and urban stations between 2006 and 2010 and they have been analyzed to 
determine their chemical composition. The use of a receptor model (PCA) from the 
results of the analysis has resulted in the identification of possible sources, both natural 
and anthropogenic.
     From the hourly data of different stations that the Conselleria has in the province 
of Castellón, the model of independent component analysis (ICA) has been applied in 
order to assess the sources of these pollutants.
     To obtain an estimate of external costs due to pollution from the ceramic industry 
in Alcora the ExternE methodology has been applied. We also estimated the profitability 
of environmental investments in the ceramic industries of Alcora by comparing the 
actual external costs with those that would be present once all the investments included 
in the plan to improve the air quality of the Generalitat Valenciana are accomplished.