Composition of PM2.5 and PM10 Collected at Urban Sites in Brazil

Abstract

Atmospheric particulate matter samples (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ) were collected at urban sites (São Paulo, SPA; Piracicaba, PRB) in São Paulo State, Brazil. In order to characterize the chemical composition of particulate matter, several chemical components were analyzed from the samples, and among these were inorganic and organic anions, monosaccharide anhydrides, and organic and elemental carbon. Long-range transport of the particulate matter while sugar cane was being burned contributed to an increase in PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations at the SPA site. Sulphate, nitrate, ammonium, elemental carbon and particulate organic material (POM) were major components of the total PM 2.5 and PM 2.5-10 . The contribution of POM to PM 2.5 at PRB was 29%, similar to the results found for the winter season at the SPA site.The Cl -/Na + ratio at the SPA site for PM 2.5 was different from that at the other site, with chloride depletion indicating several sources beyond sea salt. The occurrence of levoglucosan and its correlations with potassium confirm the contribution of local biomass burning (at PRB) and long-range transported particles at SPA. OC/EC ratios and the correlation coefficients indicated secondary formation of OC at both sites.

Particulate pollutants in the Brazilian city of São Paulo: 1-year investigation for the chemical composition and source apportionment

“…In this study it was found that, on average, more than 60 % of the total mass PM is within the category PM 2.5 ; it is consistent with a previous study performed at this site (dry season, 2008) when this value was 69 % (Souza et al, 2014a). Conversely, in a 2-year study conducted at 10 urban sites in Rio de Janeiro, the coarse fraction represented from 60 to 70 % of the PM 10 mass concentration (Godoy et al, 2009).…”

“…The average temperatures ranged from 15 to 21 • C and the wind speed ranged between 0.6 and 2.2 km h −1 . The concentrations of PM 2.5 in the intensive campaign ranged from 15 to 88 µg m −3 (average 45 µg m −3 ), with a similar average to that obtained in another intensive study in 2008, 47 µg m −3 (Souza et al, 2014a). The levels of PM 2.5 in this campaign were above the levels recommended by WHO on 90 % of the sampling days.…”

“…This pattern has already been observed; in warmer ambient conditions the fine NO − 3 aerosols can be volatilized, increasing the ratio between these species (Rastogi and Sarin, 2009;Souza et al, 2014a). NH 4 NO 3 exists in a reversible equilibrium between HNO 3 and NH 3 (Tang et al, 2016).…”

Air quality in the megacity of São Paulo: Evolution over the last 30 years and future perspectives

“…Burning of sugarcane residue during the May-October period has clear effects on local air quality by affecting PM chemical composition in the MASP (Allen et al, 2009;Souza et al, 2014;Vasconcellos et al, 2010). During the burning period, air masses from the areas of biomass burning circulate over the sea and over the biggest industrial park in the state (Cubatão, a city with chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, steel and fertiliser manufacturing, among other activities) prior to reaching the MASP (Vasconcellos et al, 2010).…”

Structural signatures of water-soluble organic aerosols in contrasting environments in South America and Western Europe

“…On the other hand, comprehensive structural identification within the complex aerosol WSOC mixture has been rarely reported for Southern Hemisphere locations. Most field studies within this region have included measurements of ambient concentrations of OC, elemental carbon (EC), and WSOC, specific organic markers (e.g., n-alkanes, PAHs, and levoglucosan), or the amount of hydrocarbon-like and oxygenated OA components [e.g., in Brisbane (Australia), Tanzania (rural background site), São Paulo (Brazil), Rondônia (Amazon Basin, Brazil), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Bogota (Colombia), and Santiago (Chile)] Mayol-Bracero et al, 2002;Tagliavini et al, 2006;Vasconcellos et al, 2010Vasconcellos et al, , 2011Mkoma and Kawamura, 2013;Crilley et al, 2014;Souza et al, 2014;De Oliveira Alves et al, 2015;Villalobos et al, 2015). Although these studies have provided a glimpse into the bulk chemical makeup of OA, the current understanding of the role of aerosol WSOC in global climate change still is incomplete.…”