Concentration and emission sources of airborne metals in particulate matter in the industrial district of Médio Paraíba, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Total suspended particles and 12 airborne metals were determined in 4 sampling sites in the industrial region of Médio Paraíba, Brazil. The geometrical means for the four sampling locals were (in units of microg/m3): 65.9 in Barra Mansa, 57.3 in Jardim Paraíba (Volta Redonda), 41.7 in Resende, and 48.9 in Volta Grande (Volta Redonda). These values are lower than levels previously determined in urban and industrial locals of the Metropolitan Area of Rio de Janeiro. For metals, the higher concentrations were obtained for Ca, Zn, Al, Fe, and Mg. Ca, Zn, and Al levels are higher than those determined in other industrial areas. These three metals are used in steel manufacturing, the main economical activity of the region. Enrichment factors for Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb are higher than 10, suggesting an industrial input. Statistical analysis show a high correlation among Ca, Mg, Zn, Cr, Al, Mn, and Fe, all of them used as raw materials in steel manufacturing and/or accumulated as industrial blast furnace slag and steelworks slag.
Loyola
Josiane
J
Physical Chemistry Department, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, CT, Building A, Room 408., Cidade Universitária, 21949-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
de Almeida
Pierre Batista
PB
Quiterio
Simone Lorena
SL
Sousa
Célia Regina
CR
Arbilla
Graciela
G
Escaleira
Viviane
V
de Carvalho
Maria Isabel
MI
dos Santos Amaral Gomes da Silva
Alzira
A
D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis; D001938:Brazil; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D007221:Industry; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D008670:Metals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D000535:Aluminum; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium