Distributions of metals and non metals in fine aerosols at an urban environment of Córdoba City

M. ACHAD; M.L. LÓPEZ; S.A. CEPPI; G.G. PALANCAR; G. TIRAO; B.M. TOSELLI

Campinas

Congreso; XXIII Reunión Anual de Usuarios del LNLS; 2013

LNLS

Atmospheric aerosols are one of the most important classes of atmospheric pollutants in urban areas. They can scatter or absorb both incoming solar radiation and thermal radiation emitted from the surface of the Earth, directly changing the radiation balance [1], thus contributing to climate effects [2]. Besides, atmospheric aerosols with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm have been implicated as contributing to the incidence and severity of respiratory diseases. Size and chemical composition are two of the principal parameters that affect the way in which those particles correlate with population health. The chemical elements derived from anthropogenic sources are usually present in the fine fraction. Trace metal elements contribute largely to the toxic properties of fine particles and can be used as fingerprints to characterizethe sources of various particle emissions. Anthropogenic elements can be originated from different sources. Those emitted during the burning of fossil fuels are V, Co, Ni, and Crand are mostly associated with particles in the finer fractions, although some particles are also present in the coarse fraction. Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn are released into the atmosphere bymetallurgical industries, and traffic pollution involves a wide range of trace element emissions that includes Fe, Ba, Pb, Cu and Zn, which may be associated with the fine and coarse particles[3]. Suspended road dust and soil dust are other potential source of elements. This study aims to characterize the aerosol chemical and mass size distribution and the influence of pollution sources, with the goal of addressing how the metal toxic components contribute on the damaging effects of the fine aerosols.