Source apportionment and health impact assessment of atmospheric particulate matter in the city of Sao Carlos, Brazil

Author(s)

Carvalho, Jonatas Schadeck ; do Nascimento, Rita de Kassia Silva ; Cintra, Joao Vitor Franca da Rosa Ferreira ; da Rosa, Natasha Leandra Chiaranda ; Grosseli, Guilherme Martins ; Fadini, Pedro Sergio ; Urban, Roberta Cerasi

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Chemosphere; v. 326, p. 10-pg., 2023-03-21.

Abstract

In this study, positive matrix factorization method was used for source apportionment of PM10 in the city of Sao Carlos from 2015 to 2018. The annual mean concentrations of PM10, 15 PAHs, 4 oxy-PAHs, 6 nitro-PAHs, 21 saccharides, and 17 ions in these samples were in the ranges 18.1 +/- 6.99 to 25.0 +/- 11.3 mu g m(-3) for PM10, 9.80 x 10(-1) +/- 2.06 to 2.03 +/- 8.54 x 10(-1) ng m(-3) for Sigma PAHs, 83.9 +/- 35.7 to 683 +/- 521 pg m(-3) for Sigma oxy-PAHs, 1.79 x 10(-2) +/- 1.23 x 10(-1) to 7.12 +/- 4.90 ng m(-3) for Sigma nitro-PAHs, 83.3 +/- 44.7 to 142 +/- 85.9 ng m(-3) for Sigma saccharides, and 3.80 +/- 1.54 to 5.66 +/- 4.52 mu g m(-3) for Sigma ions. For most species, the concentrations were higher in the dry season than in the rainy. This was related not only to the low rainfall and relative humidity characteristic of the dry season but also to an increase in fire spots recorded in the region between April and September every year from 2015 to 2018. A 4-factor solution provided the best description of the dataset, with the four identified sources of PM10 being soil resuspension (28%), biogenic emissions (27%), biomass burning (27%), and vehicle exhaust together with secondary PM (18%). Although the PM10 concentrations were not above the limit established by local legislation, the epidemiological study showed that by reducing PM2.5 concentrations to the level recommended by the WHO, approximately 35 premature deaths per 100,000 population could be avoided annually. The results revealed that biomass burning continues to be one of the main anthropic sources of emissions to the atmosphere in the region, so it needs to be incorporated into the existing guidelines and policies to reduce the concentration of particulate matter to within the limits recommended by the WHO, in order to avoid premature deaths. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50951-4 - INCT 2014: Advanced Analytical Technologies
• Grantee: Celio Pasquini
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/04820-6 - Chemical composition of the atmosphere of Araraquara mesoregion and its impact on health
• Grantee: Roberta Cerasi Urban
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/04084-8 - Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives in the atmospheric particulate matter in the City of São Carlos and their impacts on health
• Grantee: Natasha Leandra Chiaranda da Rosa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 22/03087-9 - Plastic pandemic: current exposures to microplastics in cities of the São Paulo State, their implications on health, and the impact of the COVID-19
• Grantee: Roberta Cerasi Urban
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Initial Project
• FAPESP's process: 21/10187-7 - Atmospheric micro and nanoplastics: health effects and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Grantee: Roberta Cerasi Urban
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research