Traffic and catalytic converter – Related atmospheric contamination in the metropolitan region of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 71; no. 4; pp. 677 - 684
• Main Authors: da Silva, Lílian Irene Dias, de Souza Sarkis, Jorge Eduardo, Zotin, Fátima Maria Zanon, Carneiro, Manuel Castro, Neto, Arnaldo Alcover, da Silva, Alzira dos Santos Amaral Gomes, Cardoso, Mauri José Baldini, Monteiro, Maria Inês Couto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air Pollution - analysis; Airborne particulate matter; Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Atmosphere - chemistry; Atmospheric pollution; Automobiles; Automotive catalytic converter; Brazil; Cities; Cluster Analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Filtration; Isotopes; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - chemistry; Particulate Matter - analysis; Particulate Matter - chemistry; PM 10; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Trace elements; South America; Brazil; America; Brazil, Rio de Janeiro; PM 10; Airborne particulate matter; Trace elements; Automotive catalytic converter; Chemical analysis; Megalopolis; Extraction process; Ultrasonic treatment; Air quality; Motor vehicle; Urban area; Heavy metal; Coarse particle; Trace element; ICP mass spectroscopy; Catalytic converter; Pollution source; Aerosols; Air pollution; PM10; Road traffic
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.10.057

In this work, 24-h PM
10 samples were collected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and analysed for trace elements (Cd, Ce, Cu, La, Mo, Ni, Pb, Pd, Rh, Sb and Sn). The sampling was carried out at five locations (Bonsucesso; Centro, downtown city; Copacabana; Nova Iguaçu and Sumaré) with different traffic densities and anthropogenic activities. An analytical method based on the EPA method for the determination of trace elements in airborne particulate matter (PM), using ultrasonic-assisted extraction and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied. Our results suggest that vehicular traffic is the most important source of environmental pollution at the studied sites. The presence of Mo, Pd and Rh in the analysed filters reflects an additional source of pollution caused by the erosion and deterioration of automotive catalytic converters.