Composition of extractable organic matter in aerosols from urban areas of Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) 1999-12, Vol.33 (30), p.4987-5001
• Main Authors: Almeida Azevedo, Débora de, Silveira Moreira, Larissa, Soares de Siqueira, Denilson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air quality; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Brazil, Rio de Janeiro; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Hydrocarbons; Meteorology; PAH; Particles and aerosols; Particulate matter; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Urban air pollution
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/S1352-2310(99)00270-8

The hydrocarbon compositions of atmospheric particulate matter from urban areas of Rio de Janeiro city have been studied to assess the different pollution levels. Samples were acquired using a standard high-volume air sampler (Hi-Vol), extracts were prepared and fractionated into aliphatic and aromatic compounds. High-resolution gas chromatography and GC coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were used for the analysis of the organic matter. The results show that all samples contain n-alkanes, but the distributions are different for each sample, reflecting both the biogenic (vascular plant wax input) and fossil fuel contamination sources (vehicular exhaust). The fossil fuel biomarkers, hopanes and steranes, were also observed in all samples except in the Tijuca Forest, which is a mountain forest in the midst of the sea-level city. A decrease in the level of pollution was observed in the sequence for Rebouças Tunnel>Cinelândia (downtown)>Quinta da Boa Vista Park>Tijuca Forest, as expected from the traffic density. Unfortunately, all sites are polluted mainly from vehicular emissions, but at different degrees, with the lowest levels in Tijuca Forest.