THE INFLUENCE OF INDUSTRIAL, TRAFFIC AND DOMESTIC EMISSIONS IN THE AIR QUALITY OF LA PLATA (ARGENTINA) AND LEIPZIG (GERMANY) AND THE POTENTIAL RISK ASSOCIATED TO RESPIRATORY DISEASES AND ALLERGIES.

A. RONCO; A. MULLER; M. REHWAGEN; L. MASSOLO; M. J. TUEROS; A. PORTA; O. HERBARTH

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Congreso; 2nd Mercosul Chemical Industry Congress and 7th Brazilian Petrochemical Congress; 2001

Brazilian Petroleum and Gas Institute

Results of particle size distribution of inhalable particulate matter (PM10) in ambient air from La Plata and Leipzig indicate a higher proportion of fine particles (< 0.5μm) in urban and industrial areas; while in blank sectors coarser particle proportion dominate the PM10. Chemical analysis shows the relevance of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PAH) bound composition in the fine particles. Eighty percent of PAHs detected are associated to particles smaller than 1.5 μm. The influence of industrial emissions was detected in the urban area of La Plata. Biological effects (mutagenicity and cytotoxicity) assessed by means of laboratory toxicity tests indicate highest potency in organic extracts from particles < 0.5μm, in agreement with the chemistry. The most abundant Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) found outdoor in both regions were toluene and xylenes. Outdoor VOCs in La Plata detects the influence of traffic and industrial emissions with high loads of benzene. The risk assessment to evaluate the prevalence of airborne diseases in relation with environmental quality parameters was carried using specially designed questionnaires.We can conclude that health risk of airborne particulate matter in urban and industrial areas is especially associated to respirable fine particles.