Concentrations of PM_2.5-10 and PM_2.5 and metallic elements around the Schmidt Stream area, in the Sinos River Basin, southern Brazil

Concentrações de MP_2,5-10 e MP_2,5 e elementos metálicos junto à área do Arroio Schmidt, na bacia do Rio dos Sinos, sul do Brasil

This research aimed to evaluate the air quality, by determining the concentrations of PM_2.5-10, PM_2.5 and the metallic elements Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg in the leaf part of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in an area close to Schmidt Stream, at the lower section of Sinos River Basin (SRB), in a research campaign of six months, from October 2013 to March 2014. The particles collected in the PM sampling were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS), in order to study their morphology and chemical composition. The mean concentration of PM_2.5-10 was 9.1 µg m^–3, with a range of 2.2 µg m^–3 to 15.4 µg m^–3 and the mean concentration of PM_2.5was 4.7 µg m^–3, with a range of 1.9 µg m^–3 to 8.2 µg m^–3. Concentrations of metallic elements, especially Pb, Cr and Zn, were classified as Class 4 (very high pollution levels), according to the classification proposed by Klumpp et al. (2004). Chemical and morphological analysis of PM revealed the presence of particles of biological origin, soot (Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb), salts (KCl) and soil resuspension (Al and Si). The integrated study methodology, employing environmental variables, such as PM and ryegrass, can be of help in the preparation of wide-ranging environmental diagnoses, in addition providing information needed to develop precautionary measures designed to minimize the effects of atmospheric pollution that takes into consideration the environment’s supportive capacity and environmental quality.

air pollution; particulate matter; biomonitoring; lolium multiflorum; mev/eds