We investigated the carcinogenic and mutagenic respiratory health risks related to the exposure to atmospheric PAHs in an urban area. Our study focused in the association of these pollutants and their possible effect in human health, principally respiratory and circulatory diseases. Also, we determined a relationship between the inhalation risk of PAHs and meteorological conditions. We validated the hypothesis that in winter PAHs with high molecular weight associated to submicron particles (PM) may increase exposure risk, especially for respiratory diseases, bronchitis and pneumonia diseases. Moreover, in our study we verified the relationship between diseases and several carcinogenic PAHs (Ind, BbkF, DahA, BaP, and BghiP). These individual PAHs contributed the most to the potential risk of exposure for inhalation of PM. Even at lower ambient concentrations of BaP and DahA in comparison with individual concentrations of other PAHs associated to PM. Mainly, research suggests to include carcinogenic and mutagenic PAHs in future studies of environmental health risk due to their capacity to associate to PM. Such carcinogenic and mutagenic PAHs are likely to provide the majority of the human exposure, since they originate from dense traffic urban areas were humans congregate.

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Nano-minerals and amorphous nanoparticles play a vital role in the contexts of human health and environmental sustainability. For instance, aerosols generated by the process of coal beneficiation adversely affect human health as well as the environment. These are called Coal Cleaning Rejects (CCRs). They mainly contain clay minerals, nano-quartz, different particles of Fe/Al, and other Hazardous Elements (HEs) and compounds in minute quantities. In this work, we studied the CCRs of industrial facilities in Brazil for the presence of nanoparticles/nanominerals and HEs. CCRs were characterized using Focused Ion Beam (FIB) to evaluate nano-compound assemblages with high resolutiontransmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (HR-TEM/EDS) to assess the extent of risk to human health. In the present work, the importance of nanogeoscience in the description of CCRs and HEs in several secondary phases deposits (e.g. Fe and Al-sulfates, oxides and hydroxides minerals) has been emphasized and the presence of HEs in Brazilian coal abandoned area has been confirmed. This innovative study used an advanced characterization that will be useful in understanding the extent of environmental risk as well as a threat to human health, associated with CCRs.

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The present study aimed to evaluate Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, Pb, Mn, Al, and Fe contents, as well as their geochemical partitioning in Sinos River basin sediments in southern Brazil. This basin is a densely populated area with a substantial number of industries, especially metallurgy, electroplating works, steel mills, petrochemicals, and tanneries. The total metal concentrations were determined by X-ray fluorescence and the sediment phase concentrations were determined by applying the BCR-701 sequential extraction method proposed by the Community Bureau of Reference of the European Community, using ICP/OES. The contents extracted by a solution of 0.5 mol/L HCl were also considered. Metal contents were evaluated in the sediment fraction <63 µm. Results in the industrialized and densely populated region showed an increase in the total concentrations of Cu, Cr, Zn, and Pb, and in the potentially mobile fractions for Cu, Cr, Zn and Ni sequentially extracted. Cr stood out particularly in the Portão stream, showing 1,286 mg/kg as a result of the total concentration, considering the tannery region influence.

Pollution generated by hazardous elements and persistent organic compounds that affect coal fire is a major environmental concern because of its toxic nature, persistence, and potential risk to human health. The coal mining activities are growing in the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil, thus the collateral impacts on the health and economy are yet to be analyzed. In addition, the environment is also enduring the collateral damage as the waste materials directly influence the coal by-products applied in civil constructions. This study was aimed to establish the relationships between the composition, morphology, and structural characteristics of ultrafine particles emitted by coal mine fires. In Brazil, the self-combustions produced by Al-Ca-Fe-Mg-Si coal spheres are rich in chalcophile elements (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, and Zn), lithophile elements (Ce, Hf, In, La, Th, and U), and siderophile elements (Co, Cr, Mo, Fe, Ni, and V). The relationship between nanomineralogy and the production of hazardous elements as analyzed by advanced methods for the geochemical analysis of different materials were also delineated. The information obtained by the mineral substance analysis may provide a better idea for the understanding of coal-fire development and assessing the response of particular coal in different combustion processes.

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