Isoprene, benzene and toluene levels at the major landmarks of Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Abstract

RESUMENSe recolectaron muestras de aire en los días anteriores al Campeonato Mundial de Futbol FIFA 2014 y durante la celebración de éste, en los principales puntos turísticos de Río de Janeiro, Brasil. Las muestras fueron recolectadas y analizadas siguiendo el método TO-15 de la US-EPA. El isopreno fue seleccionado como indicador de las emisiones biogénicas, y el benceno y el tolueno como indicadores de las emisiones vehiculares primarias. Se encontraron concentraciones de isopreno, benceno y tolueno en los intervalos 0.39 a 2.32 µg m , respectivamente. También se calcularon las reactividades cinéticas y mecánicas de estos compuestos para estimar su contribución a la formación de oxidantes atmosféricos. Las concentraciones de benceno y tolueno muestran que las emisiones urbanas impactan de manera considerable las áreas verdes de la ciudad. Los niveles de isopreno son similares a los encontrados previamente en otras regiones con vegetación. ABSTRACTAir samples were collected in the days before and during the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the major landmarks of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Samples were collected and analysed following Method TO-15 (US-EPA). Isoprene was selected as a marker of biogenic emissions, and benzene and toluene were selected as markers of anthropogenic emissions, primarily vehicular emissions. The isoprene, benzene, and toluene concentrations ranged from 0.39 to 2.32 µg m -3 , 2.27 to 10.16 µg m , respectively. The kinetic and mechanistic reactivities of these compounds were also calculated to estimate the actual contribution of these compounds to atmospheric oxidant formation. The benzene and toluene concentrations indicated that greener areas of the city are strongly affected by urban emissions. Levels of isoprene were similar to those previously determined in other areas with vegetation.

Air Quality in the Maracanã and Deodoro Zones During the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

“…These values are approximately twice those obtained in the same location in 2015 (ranging from 0.14 to 0.34), 32 and higher than those obtained using the TO-1 method in the same sampling location (0.23) and on Brazil Avenue (0.21). 36,37 In view of these previous data obtained in Rio de Janeiro, values lower than 0.35 could be considered characteristic of the 38 obtained a ratio of 0.39. The benzene/toluene emission ratio has been previously reported for the diesel and biodiesel blends (B2 to B20) currently used in Brazil to be 0.50-0.60.…”

Atmospheric Toluene and Benzene Mole Fractions at Cape Town and Cape Point and an Estimation of the Hydroxyl Radical Concentrations in the Air above the Cape Peninsula, South Africa

“…23 Globally, numerous studies of the mole fractions of benzene and toluene and T/B ratio have been reported. 15,20,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] However, there is a paucity of information about atmospheric mole fractions of benzene and toluene in South Africa. This study aims to investigate the variations in benzene and toluene mole fractions in the surface air over Cape Town and Cape Point.…”