Abstract In early childhood, air pollution leads to an increased risk of disease, premature death, and development of disruptions. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is considered the classical pollutant of major concern. However, in Brazil, fine particulate monitoring is still limited and restricted to a few cities. Particularly, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, only one automatic station obtains PM2.5 concentrations and publishes the air quality indexes daily. This study is part of the project “Clean air for a good start” managed by the Horizon Citizen Foundation, with the goal of obtaining evidence to set a plan to reduce children exposition to air pollution. Data is shared on a global web platform. Results showed that PM2.5 levels are high when compared with WHO guidelines and coordinated actions would be needed to decrease emissions of primary pollutants and secondary aerosol’s precursors.

Resumen En la niñez, la contaminación del aire lleva a un aumento de las enfermedades, muerte prematura y problemas en el desarrollo. El material particulado fino (MP2,5) es considerado un contaminante clásico de mayor importancia. Sin embargo, en Brasil, el monitoreo de material particulado es limitado y restringido a pocas ciudades. En la ciudad de Rio de Janeiro, solamente una estación registra las concentraciones de MP2,5 y publica diariamente los índices de calidad del aire. Este estudio es parte del proyecto “Aires Nuevos para la Primera Infancia” coordenado por la Fundación Horizonte Ciudadano, con el objetivo de generar evidencias para proponer un plan para reducir la exposición de los niños a la contaminación del aire. Los datos son compartidos en una plataforma virtual. Los resultados muestran niveles de MP2,5 altos en comparación con las recomendaciones de la OMS y la necesidad de acciones coordenadas para disminuir las emisiones de contaminantes.

Resumo Na primeira infância, a poluição do ar leva a um aumento das doenças, mortes prematuras e perturbações no desenvolvimento. O material particulado fino (MP2,5) é considerado o poluente clássico de maior importância. No entanto, no Brasil, o monitoramento de material particulado fino é limitado e restrito a poucas cidades. Na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, apenas uma estação registra as concentrações de MP2,5 e divulga diariamente os índices de qualidade do ar. Este estudo é parte do projeto “Ares Novos para a Primeira Infância” coordenado pela Fundação Horizonte Cidadão, com o objetivo de obter evidências para estabelecer um plano para reduzir a exposição das crianças à poluição do ar. Os dados são compartilhados numa plataforma virtual global. Os resultados mostram níveis de MP2,5 altos quando comparados com as recomendações da OMS e a necessidade de ações coordenadas para reduzir as emissões de poluentes primários e de precursores de poluentes secundários.

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On May 2019, the members of the Anthropocene Working Group completed a binding vote to affirm some of the key questions that have been agreed in 2016: the Anthropocene should be considered as a formal chronostratigraphic unit, defined by a Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), using one of the stratigraphic signals around the mid-twentieth century of the Common Era. The fallout from nuclear weapons testing appears as the most suitable GSSP. In this article, the main anthropogenic markers are discussed as well as the sources or human-made radiation and the signature of nuclear weapons testing. The appearance of 239+240Pu in the early 1950s and the clear peak, in 1963, makes a good marker. High resolution archives include layers of sedimentary rocks, lacustrine and marine sediments and corals and polar ice cores. A coupled application of other radioactive isotopes, as 137Cs, 14C and 241Am, may be useful to categorize distinct fallout signatures. A site to define the Anthropocene (golden spike) would ideally be located between 30º and 60º north of the equator. Nevertheless, results obtained in sediments on the Brazilian coast showed that both 239+240Pu and 137Cs signatures could be detected and quantified as markers of this “atomic age”.

Resumo Neste estudo, foram analisados os possíveis efeitos das obras de mobilidade urbana, realizadas no bairro Centro da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, sobre a qualidade do ar. Foram tratados estatisticamente os dados de concentração obtidos na Estação de Monitoramento do Largo da Carioca para os poluentes PM10, CO, O3 e SO2, assim como os parâmetros meteorológicos, para os meses de julho e agosto de 2015 e 2016, respectivamente, ano que precedeu e ano em que foram realizados os Jogos Olímpicos Rio 2016. Os resultados obtidos mostram que, embora as concentrações dos poluentes monitorados não tenham, em geral, ultrapassado os padrões nacionais de qualidade do ar, os níveis de PM10 e de ozônio são preocupantes, especialmente considerando as orientações da Organização Mundial da Saúde. Os níveis maiores de ozônio em agosto de 2016 podem ser consequência do aumento da radiação solar ou ainda dos processos químicos envolvidos na sua formação e das concentrações de seus precursores, os compostos orgânicos voláteis e os óxidos de nitrogênio (NOx). Para entender e explicar tais resultados, é indispensável dispor de dados de monitoramento contínuo de NOx e hidrocarbonetos não metânicos totais. No entanto, existe uma grave deficiência da Estação do Largo da Carioca quanto à aquisição desses dados. Apesar do esforço do corpo técnico da Secretaria Municipal de Meio Ambiente da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, o investimento do município no controle da qualidade do ar é ainda insuficiente, especialmente considerando que o NO 2 é um composto legislado, colocando em risco a saúde e o bem-estar da população.

Abstract In this study, the possible impact on air quality, due to changes in urban mobility infrastructure, in the central District of the city of Rio de Janeiro, was analyzed. Concentration data obtained at the Monitoring Station of Largo da Carioca, for the pollutants PM10, CO, O 3 and SO2, as well as meteorological parameters, were statistically analyzed for the months July and August 2015 and 2016, respectively, the year preceding and the year of the Olympic Games in Rio, 2016. The results obtained show that, despite the concentration values for the monitored pollutants being lower than national air quality requirements, the PM10 and ozone levels were of concern, mainly when the World Health Organization guidelines are adopted. The higher ozone levels in August 2016 may be a consequence of the increase in solar radiation or, even, of the chemical processes and concentrations of its precursors, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides (NOx). In order to understand and explain these results, NOx and non-methane hydrocarbon data from continuous monitoring is necessary. However, data acquisition proved to be inadequate. Despite technician’s efforts, at the Municipal Environmental Secretary of the City of Rio de Janeiro, government investment in air quality control is still insufficient, especially considering that NO 2 is a criteria pollutant, which represents a risk to population health and welfare.

The efficiency of U.S.EPA TO-15 Method was evaluated under typical conditions of an urban environment with natural and anthropic emission sources. The performance criteria which should be met for a system to qualify, were fulfilled: a detection limit of ≤0.2 ng for all target compounds, replicate precision for a calibration standard and ambient samples within 20%. The stability of the target compounds during storage of sampled air in canisters was also evaluated at atmospheric pressure and relative humidity of 50%. Results show that, in the sampling conditions, compounds are not stable for more than a week. For validation experiments, samples were collected at the entrance of Tijuca National Park, located at the city of Rio de Janeiro. Isoprene was selected as a marker of biogenic emissions, and aromatic compounds were selected as markers of anthropogenic emissions, primarily vehicular emissions. Then, samples were collected in Saens Peña Square, a central area in the Tijuca District, in the northern part of the city, approximately 10 km from the entrance of Tijuca National Park. Volatile organic compounds were determined and the results were compared with previous data obtained in the same local using other methods.