Application of passive samplers to study the particulate matter sources of air pollution in Bauru

• Grant number: 16/02227-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2016
• End date: December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Principal Investigator: Marina Piacenti da Silva
• Grantee: Paulo Eduardo Plana Junior
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The presence of particulate matter in atmosphere has always been an important issue in air quality research, because these particles can cause serious problems to the environment and to humans. Given the large air circulation, it is known that particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere from various sources such as biomass burning, automotive industry, among others, can move at great distances from their point of emission. In this work, the particulate matter in the atmosphere of Bauru will be characterized using a cheap passive sampler. The samplers will be positioned at different points of the city, to evaluate the spatial variability of MP deposition. The particles characterization will be done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and chemical analysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Finally will be performed a cluster analysis to better understand the relationship between anthropogenic activity emissions and the presence of MP in the local atmosphere.