title: Assessment of heavy metals in the particulate matter of two Brazilian metropolitan areas by using Tillandsia usneoides as atmospheric biomonitor.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nelzair A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Vianna
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: Roberta P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: de Barros
authors.forename: Gilberto M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Amado Filho
authors.forename: Rodrigo O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Meire
authors.forename: João Paulo M
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Malm
authors.forename: Argemiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Oliveira Júnior
authors.forename: Leonardo R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Andrade
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D052638:Particulate Matter
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