Concentrations of PM 2.5-10 and PM 2.5 and metallic elements around the Schmidt Stream area, in the Sinos River Basin, southern Brazil

摘要

This research aimed to evaluate the air quality, by determining the concentrations of PM 2.5-10 , PM 2.5 and the metallic elements Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg in the leaf part of ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum ) in an area close to Schmidt Stream, at the lower section of Sinos River Basin (SRB), in a research campaign of six months, from October 2013 to March 2014. The particles collected in the PM sampling were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS), in order to study their morphology and chemical composition. The mean concentration of PM 2.5-10 was 9.1 ?μg m a??3 , with a range of 2.2 ?μg m a??3 to 15.4 ?μg m a??3 and the mean concentration of PM 2.5 was 4.7 ?μg m a??3 , with a range of 1.9 ?μg m a??3 to 8.2 ?μg m a??3 . Concentrations of metallic elements, especially Pb, Cr and Zn, were classified as Class 4 (very high pollution levels), according to the classification proposed by Klumpp et al. (2004). Chemical and morphological analysis of PM revealed the presence of particles of biological origin, soot (Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb), salts (KCl) and soil resuspension (Al and Si). The integrated study methodology, employing environmental variables, such as PM and ryegrass, can be of help in the preparation of wide-ranging environmental diagnoses, in addition providing information needed to develop precautionary measures designed to minimize the effects of atmospheric pollution that takes into consideration the environmenta??s supportive capacity and environmental quality.