Relative contributions of fossil fuel and biomass burning sources to black carbon aerosol on the Southern Atlantic Ocean Coast and King George Island (Antarctic Peninsula).

Carbonaceous aerosols can affect climate, especially particles containing black carbon (BC). BC originated from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuel and biomass, which can heat the atmosphere and increase ice melting, but little is known about BC sources to Antarctica. We quantified the contribution of distant origin (biomass burning) and local emissions (fossil fuel) to atmospheric BC concentration in the King George Island (Antarctic Peninsula) and the Southern Ocean. We examine the BC concentrations using a multi-wavelength Aethalometer AE-33 and AE-42 aboard the Brazilian Oceanographic Research Ship Almirante Maximiano. The results indicate that the region is influenced by local sources and air masses coming from surrounding continents. Fossil fuel combustion was the major source of carbonaceous aerosols in the region, whereas the total average concentration was 41.8 ± 22.8 ng m-3. The findings indicate a contribution of biomass burning coming from low and mid-latitudes of South America over the Antarctic Peninsula and the Southern Ocean around 62ºS latitude. We demonstrated that fossil fuel is the main contributor to atmospheric BC concentration for the Austral summer and autumn. Scientific stations, local tourism, and traffic are possible local BC sources. Our work invokes the urgency of questionable sustainability issues about Antarctica exploration.

Healthy environment--indoor air quality of Brazilian elementary schools nearby petrochemical industry.

The mitigation of pollution released to the environment originating from the industrial sector has been the aim of all policy-makers and its importance is evident if the adverse health effects on the world population are considered. Although this concern is controversial, petroleum refinery has been linked to some adverse health effects for people living nearby. Apart from home, school is the most important indoor environment for children and there is increasing concern about the school environment and its impact on health, also in developing countries where the prevalence of pollution is higher. As most of the children spend more than 40% of their time in schools, it is critical to evaluate the pollution level in such environment. In the metropolitan region of Curitiba, South Brazil, five schools nearby industries and highways with high density traffic, were selected to characterize the aerosol and gaseous compounds indoor and outdoor of the classrooms, during 2009-2011. Size segregated aerosol samples were collected for analyses of bulk and single particle elemental profiles. They were analyzed by electron probe X-ray micro-analysis (EPXMA), and by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), to investigate the elemental composition of individual particles and bulk samples. The concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX); NO2; SO2; acetic acid; and formic acid were assessed indoor and outdoor using passive diffusion tubes. BTEX were analyzed by GC-MS and other collected gasses by ion chromatography. Individual exposition of BTEX was assessed by personal passive diffusion tubes. Results are interpreted separately and as a whole with the specific aim of identifying compounds that could affect the health of the scholars. In view of the chemical composition and size distribution of the aerosol particles, local deposition efficiencies in the children's respiratory systems were calculated, revealing the deposition of particles at extrathoracic, tracheobronchial and pulmonary levels.