title: Atmospheric BTX and polyaromatic hydrocarbons in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
abstract: Polycyclic aromatic and monoaromatic (benzene, toluene and xylene, or BTX) hydrocarbons were monitored in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the summer of 1998/1999. The levels of these aromatic chemicals decreased with distance from main roads, indicating mobile sources are the main pollutant emitters in this Latin American city. Benzo[ghi]perylene/indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene and benzene/toluene ratios corroborate this idea. However, higher benzene/toluene ratios at one of the major access routes into the city suggest pollutant inputs from a nearby refinery. Literature data were reviewed in order to outline differences and similarities among sources and levels of aromatic pollutants in large urban agglomerations worldwide. Concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene and benzene, which are well-known carcinogenic chemicals, were relatively low in Rio de Janeiro. This fact was attributed to specific atmospheric conditions during the tropical summer and differences in vehicle fuel composition.
authors: Laboratório de Toxicologia, CESTEH-ENSP, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. m.fernandes@bendigo.latrobe.edu.au
authors: Milena B
authors: MB
authors: Fernandes
authors: Leila S R
authors: LS
authors: Brickus
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Moreira
authors: J N
authors: JN
authors: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis*; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000032:analysis; D001938:Brazil; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007221:Industry; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D014050:Toluene / Q000032:analysis*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002273:Carcinogens; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014992:Xylenes; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D014050:Toluene; D001554:Benzene