Quantifying the impact of particle matter on mortality and hospitalizations in four Brazilian metropolitan areas.

Air quality management involves investigating areas where pollutant concentrations are above guideline or standard values to minimize its effect on human health. Particulate matter (PM) is one of the most studied pollutants, and its relationship with health has been widely outlined. To guide the construction and improvement of air quality policies, the impact of PM on the four Brazilian southeast metropolitan areas was investigated. One-year long modeling of PM10 and PM2.5 was performed with the WRF-Chem model for 2015 to quantify daily and annual PM concentrations in 102 cities. Avoidable mortality due to diverse causes and morbidity due to respiratory and circular system diseases were estimated concerning WHO guidelines, which was adopted in Brazil as a final standard to be reached in the future; although there is no deadline set for its implementation yet. Results showed satisfactory representation of meteorology and ambient PM concentrations. An overestimation in PM concentrations for some monitoring stations was observed, mainly in São Paulo metropolitan area. Cities around capitals with high modelled annual PM2.5 concentrations do not monitor this pollutant. The total avoidable deaths estimated for the region, related to PM2.5, were 32,000 ± 5,300 due to all-cause mortality, between 16,000 ± 2,100 and 51,000 ± 3,000 due non-accidental causes, between 7,300 ± 1,300 and 16,700 ± 1,500 due to cardiovascular disease, between 4,750 ± 900 and 10,950 ± 870 due ischemic heart diseases and 1,220 ± 330 avoidable deaths due to lung cancer. Avoidable respiratory hospitalizations were greater for PM2.5 among 'children' age group than for PM10 (all age group) except in São Paulo metropolitan area. For circulatory system diseases, 9,840 ± 3,950 avoidable hospitalizations in the elderly related to a decrease in PM2.5 concentrations were estimated. This study endorses that more restrictive air quality standards, human exposure, and health effects are essential factors to consider in urban air quality management.

Avaliação da influência das condições meteorológicas na concentração de material particulado fino (MP2,5) em Belo Horizonte, MG / Evaluation of meteorological conditions influence on fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) concentration in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

RESUMO O agravamento da poluição atmosférica nos centros urbanos devido ao crescimento das instalações industriais e da frota veicular é um problema que causa danos ambientais, afetando também a saúde humana, principalmente pela inalação de material particulado fino (MP2,5). O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência das condições meteorológicas na concentração de MP2,5 em Belo Horizonte, utilizando dados amostrados entre o inverno de 2007 e o outono de 2008. Além disso, foram avaliadas as diferenças dos dados meteorológicos e da concentração do MP2,5 entre as estações do ano nesse período. Para tanto, foram realizados testes estatísticos de correlação entre os dados meteorológicos e a concentração de MP2,5, além de análises de significância para avaliação das diferenças entre esses dois parâmetros nos períodos seco e chuvoso, característicos da área de estudo. Foi observada diferença significativa entre a concentração do MP2,5 nos períodos seco e chuvoso. Foram também observadas diferenças significativas entre os parâmetros meteorológicos (umidade relativa; temperatura mínima, média e máxima; e direção do vento) para esses períodos. Por meio da análise de correlação de Spearman, observou-se correlação significativa entre a concentração do MP2,5 e os parâmetros meteorológicos precipitação e umidade relativa do ar.

ABSTRACT The increase of air pollution in urban centres due to the growth of industrial facilities and vehicular fleet is a problem that causes environmental damage and affects human health, mainly due to the inhalation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). For this reason, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of meteorological conditions on PM2.5 concentration in Belo Horizonte, using data sampled from the winter of 2007 to the autumn of 2008. In addition, the differences in meteorological data and PM2.5 concentration between the seasons of the year in this study's period were also assessed. For this, correlation statistical tests were performed for meteorological data and PM2.5 concentration, as well as significance analysis to evaluate the differences between these two parameters in the dry and wet periods, characteristic of the study area. It was observed a significant difference between PM2.5 concentration in dry and wet periods. Significant differences were also observed between meteorological parameters (relative humidity, minimum, mean and maximum temperature and wind direction) for these periods. Spearman's correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between PM2.5 concentration and the meteorological parameters precipitation and relative humidity.

Inter-relações entre as concentrações de ozônio e de dióxido de nitrogênio na região da Grande Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brasil / Interrelationships between the ozone and nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the region of Grande Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil

RESUMO Este trabalho objetivou verificar as inter-relações entre as concentrações de ozônio (O3) e de dióxido de nitrogênio (NO2) na região da Grande Vitória (RGV), Espírito Santo, Brasil. Adotou-se a metodologia vetorial autorregressiva (VAR) e o teste de causalidade de Granger. O modelo VAR captura as interdependências lineares entre várias séries temporais, sendo que cada variável possui uma equação estimada que representa sua evolução em termos de suas próprias defasagens e das defasagens das outras variáveis. Já o teste de causalidade de Granger baseia-se em um sistema de equações bivariado para verificar se uma variável é capaz de prever a outra. Os resultados revelaram que as concentrações de O3 e de NO2 da Região (estação) de Laranjeiras foram as menos afetadas por concentrações de outras estações. Devido à localização, as concentrações de O3 e NO2 da Enseadá do Suá tiveram significativa influência de outras regiões, especialmente de Jardim Camburi, Ibes e Vitória - Centro. A concentração de ozônio na região do Ibes foi fortemente influenciada pelas concentrações de O3 e de NO2 da Enseada do Suá. Além disso, as concentrações de Cariacica sofreram impactos relevantes das concentrações da Enseada do Suá, provavelmente, devido à direção do vento Norte/Nordeste, predominante na RGV.

ABSTRACT The objective of this paper was to determine the interrelationships between the ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations, in the Grande Vitória Region (RGV), Espírito Santo, Brazil, using the methodology VAR and the Granger causality test. The VAR model captures the linear interdependencies between multiple time series. In this context, each variable has an estimated equation that represents its evolution in terms of its own lags and the lags of other variables. Granger causality test is based on a system of bivariate equations to check whether a variable is able to forecast the other. The results showed that the O3 and NO2 concentrations at Laranjeiras station were less affected by concentrations of other stations. The concentrations of Enseada do Suá were significantly affected by other regions, especially Jardim Camburi, IBES and Vitória - Centro. The Ibes ozone concentrations were strongly influenced by the O3 and NO2 concentrations from Enseada do Suá. Furthermore, the O3 and NO2 concentrations of Cariacica had significant impacts of concentrations of the Enseada do Suá, probably due to the prevailing North/Northeast wind direction in the RGV.

Characterization of atmospheric aerosols in the city of São Paulo, Brazil: comparisons between polluted and unpolluted periods.

The objective of this study was to determine the size and composition of atmospheric aerosols in the downtown area of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, for a polluted and an unpolluted period. Aerosols were sampled with a portable air sampler (PAS), Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor (MOUDI), and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer. At the study site, air quality is poor, especially during the winter, high concentrations of pollutants being emitted primarily by the light- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet. We analyzed mass, black carbon (BC), Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sn, Zr, and Pb. During the polluted period, diurnal PM(10) was higher than nocturnal PM(10), whereas the inverse was true during the unpolluted period. The FPM was rich in BC, S, and Pb, whereas CPM was rich in Al, Si, Ca, Ti, and Fe. Mass balance was performed by category: ammonium sulfate, sodium chloride, crustal material, BC, and other. The PAS-determined FPM was mainly BC. The MOUDI-determined FPM crustal material explained more mass than did ammonium sulfate and BC during the polluted period, whereas ammonium sulfate had the largest mass during the unpolluted period. Crustal material was the major CPM component, followed by ammonium sulfate and BC. During the unpolluted period, FPM concentrations were lower, whereas those of ammonium sulfate were relatively higher, especially at night, and particle number was inversely proportional to particle size. Aerosol growth was more intense during the polluted period.