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      Urban air pollution: a representative survey of PM 2.5 mass concentrations in six Brazilian cities

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          Abstract

          In urban areas of Brazil, vehicle emissions are the principal source of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). The World Health Organization air quality guidelines state that the annual mean concentration of PM 2.5 should be below 10 μg m −3. In a collaboration of Brazilian institutions, coordinated by the University of São Paulo School of Medicine and conducted from June 2007 to August 2008, PM 2.5 mass was monitored at sites with high traffic volumes in six Brazilian state capitals. We employed gravimetry to determine PM 2.5 mass concentrations, reflectance to quantify black carbon concentrations, X-ray fluorescence to characterize elemental composition, and ion chromatography to determine the composition and concentrations of anions and cations. Mean PM 2.5 concentrations and proportions of black carbon (BC) in the cities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Recife, and Porto Alegre were 28.1 ± 13.6 μg m −3 (38% BC), 17.2 ± 11.2 μg m −3 (20% BC), 14.7 ± 7.7 μg m −3 (31% BC), 14.4 ± 9.5 μg m −3 (30% BC), 7.3 ± 3.1 μg m −3 (26% BC), and 13.4 ± 9.9 μg m −3 (26% BC), respectively. Sulfur and minerals (Al, Si, Ca, and Fe), derived from fuel combustion and soil resuspension, respectively, were the principal elements of the PM 2.5 mass. We discuss the long-term health effects for each metropolitan region in terms of excess mortality risk, which translates to greater health care expenditures. This information could prove useful to decision makers at local environmental agencies.

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          Spatial and Temporal Variation in PM2.5 Chemical Composition in the United States for Health Effects Studies

          Background Although numerous studies have demonstrated links between particulate matter (PM) and adverse health effects, the chemical components of the PM mixture that cause injury are unknown. Objectives This work characterizes spatial and temporal variability of PM2.5 (PM with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) components in the United States; our objective is to identify components for assessment in epidemiologic studies. Methods We constructed a database of 52 PM2.5 component concentrations for 187 U.S. counties for 2000–2005. First, we describe the challenges inherent to analysis of a national PM2.5 chemical composition database. Second, we identify components that contribute substantially to and/or co-vary with PM2.5 total mass. Third, we characterize the seasonal and regional variability of targeted components. Results Strong seasonal and geographic variations in PM2.5 chemical composition are identified. Only seven of the 52 components contributed ≥ 1% to total mass for yearly or seasonal averages [ammonium (NH4 +), elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon matter (OCM), nitrate (NO3 −), silicon, sodium (Na+), and sulfate (SO4 2−)]. Strongest correlations with PM2.5 total mass were with NH4 + (yearly), OCM (especially winter), NO3 − (winter), and SO4 2− (yearly, spring, autumn, and summer), with particularly strong correlations for NH4 + and SO4 2− in summer. Components that co-varied with PM2.5 total mass, based on daily detrended data, were NH4 +, SO4 2− , OCM, NO3 2−, bromine, and EC. Conclusions The subset of identified PM2.5 components should be investigated further to determine whether their daily variation is associated with daily variation of health indicators, and whether their seasonal and regional patterns can explain the seasonal and regional heterogeneity in PM10 (PM with aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm) and PM2.5 health risks.
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            Size-segregated measurements of particulate elemental carbon and aerosol light absorption at remote arctic locations

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              Seasonal and diurnal variations of ambient PM2.5 concentration in urban and rural environments in Beijing

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                Author and article information

                Contributors
                +55-11-30914731 , +55-11-30914714 , regina@model.iag.usp.br
                Journal
                Air Qual Atmos Health
                Air Quality, Atmosphere, & Health
                Springer Netherlands (Dordrecht )
                1873-9318
                1873-9326
                4 January 2011
                4 January 2011
                March 2012
                : 5
                : 1
                : 63-77
                Affiliations
                [1 ]School of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, University of São Paulo, Rua Arlindo Béttio,1000, Ermelino Matarazzo, CEP 03828-000 São Paulo, Brazil
                [2 ]Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
                [3 ]University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
                Article
                124
                10.1007/s11869-010-0124-1
                3286513
                22408694
                8c8311af-e001-4b9e-a56a-84727da0fea4
                © The Author(s) 2010
                History
                : 17 June 2010
                : 8 December 2010
                Categories
                Article
                Custom metadata
                © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

                Atmospheric science & Climatology
                aerosols,fine particulate matter,brazil,urban pollution,long-term health effects

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