Assessment of heavy metals in the particulate matter of two Brazilian metropolitan areas by using Tillandsia usneoides as atmospheric biomonitor.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this paper were to quantify the heavy metals (HM) in the air of different sites in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Salvador (SA) using Tillandsia usneoides (Bromeliaceae) as a biomonitor, and to study the morphology and elemental composition of the air particulate matter (PM) retained on the Tillandsia surface.


METHODS
Tillandsia samples were collected in a noncontaminated area and exposed to the air of five sites in RJ State and seven in SA for 45 days, in two seasons. Samples were prepared to HM quantification by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while morphological and elemental characterizations were studied by using scanning electron microscopy.


RESULTS
HM concentrations were significantly higher when compared to control sites. We found an increasing metal concentration as follows: Cd < Cr < Pb < Cu < Zn. PM exhibited a morphology varying from amorphous- to polygonal-shaped particles. Size measurements indicated that more than 80% of particles were less than 10 μm. PM contained aluminosilicates iron-rich particles, but Zn, Cu, Cr, and Ba were also detected.


CONCLUSIONS
HM input in the atmosphere was mainly associated with anthropogenic sources such as vehicle exhaust. Elemental analysis detected HM in the inhalable particles, indicating that those HMs may intensify the toxic effects of PM on human health. Our results indicated T. usneoides as an adequate biomonitor of HM in the PM belonging to the inhalable fraction.
Vianna
Nelzair A
NA
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Gonçalves
Daniel
D
Brandão
Flavia
F
de Barros
Roberta P
RP
Amado Filho
Gilberto M
GM
Meire
Rodrigo O
RO
Torres
João Paulo M
JP
Malm
Olaf
O
D'Oliveira Júnior
Argemiro
A
Andrade
Leonardo R
LR
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001938:Brazil; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D031232:Tillandsia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D052638:Particulate Matter
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