Annual variation of total suspended particulate and associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the tropical city of Niterói, RJ, Brazil

Simultaneous evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and carbonyl compounds in the atmosphere of Niterói City, RJ, Brazil

“…Despite the characteristics of both studies, that prevent a direct comparison, the geometric mean of TSP concentration (108 mg m À3 ) found in this study increased 25% in comparison with a previous work (87 mg m À3 ) conducted between 2005 and 2006, in the same sampling site (Lima and Pereira Netto, 2009). This variation possibly results of the vehicular fleet increase (30%) observed there (191,133 vehicles, in 2006 to 247,854 vehicles, in 2012) (DETRAN, 2012).…”

“…The data of PAH associated with TSP allowed a comparison with previous data obtained in the same sampling point (Lima and Pereira Netto, 2009) and represented a contribution to the assessment of the evolution of air quality in this area.…”

“…Sampling occurred 5 m above the ground in a flat open area located 200 m away of Guanabara Bay shore, facing an eleven-lane traffic system. TSP samples were collected using glass fiber filters (Pall Corporation, USA) and a High Volume Air sampler (Energ etica, RJ, Brazil) calibrated and operated according to NBR 954/97 (ABNT, 2006), at a flow rate of approximately 1.8 m 3 min À1 (Lima and Pereira Netto, 2009). PM10 was collected using a low-flow portable sampler (Leland Legacy pump with an impact sampling head, SKC) and quartz filters (47 mm), at a flow rate of approximately 10 L min À1 .…”

“…PAH and CC were simultaneously extracted from the filters following a previous method (Lima and Pereira Netto, 2009). An aliquot of the extract (0.5 mL) was derivatized using DNPH for CC determination, according to Liggio and McLaren (2003), with minor modifications (Supplementary Material).…”

“…Another question is concerned with the lack of seasonal variation of the concentrations of atmospheric PAH in tropical areas with regard to meteorological parameters such as temperature and relative humidity (Dallarosa et al, 2005, Quit erio et al, 2007Vasconcellos et al, 2010;Pereira Netto et al, 2002a;Lima and Pereira Netto, 2009), when compared to cold or temperate areas. However, Panther et al (1999) and Dallarosa et al (2005) reported that the major factor affecting PAH levels in tropical cities are the atmospheric deposition processes.…”