Analysis of Atmospheric Aerosol (PM2,5) in Rio de Janeiro City

Thiago G. Veríssimo(1), Américo A. F. S. Kerr(1), Maria de Fatima Andrade(2), Regina Maura de Miranda(2), Adalgiza Fornaro(2), Paulo Afonso de Andre(3) e Paulo Saldiva(3)

(1) Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo (IF-USP) (2) Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas da Universidade de São Paulo (IAG-USP) (3) Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FM-USP)

     Abstract Number: 780
     Last modified: May 14, 2010

Abstract
Several studies indicate that mortality and morbidity could be well correlated to the concentrations of fine fraction of the atmospheric aerosol (PM2.5). This experiment is part of a main project to analyze air pollution impact on human health in six Brazilian metropolitan areas, looking specially to PM2.5. A sampling campaign of the PM2.5 in Rio de Janeiro city (Brazil) was carried out between August 2007 and September 2008, taken 130 samples of 24 h. The observed annual average concentration was 16.4 micro-gram/m³ (19.6 micro-gram/m³ in the winter time and 13.3 in the summer time), 64% higher than the annual WHO guide line; 17,7% of the samples surpassed the 24-hour WHO guide line (25 micro-gram/m³). The filters were analyzed by ion chromatography and using X-ray fluorescence (XRF-ED) technique, allowing multielemental chemical analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) modeling, gave the following dominant sources: diesel emissions and metals (Zn, Cl, Black Carbon, Br, Mn, PM2.5, Cu), re-suspended road dust (Ti, Ca, Fe, Si), oil combustion (P, S, V), automobile emissions and industry (Al, K, Pb), sea spray (Mg, Na). Further those results will be correlated with health data looking for pollutants and sources responsibility.