title: Potential utilization for the evaluation of particulate and gaseous pollutants at an urban site near a major highway.
abstract: Works of particle number and mass concentration variability have a great importance since they may indicate better the influence of vehicle emissions in an urban region. Moreover, the importance of this work lies in the fact that there are few studies in Brazil, where the fuel used has unique characteristics. Consequently, this paper presents measurements of particle number (size range 0.3-10 μm), particle mass (PM10, PM2.5, PM1), O3 and NOx (NO, NO2), in a site near a major highway at the Metropolitan Area of Porto Alegre, south Brazil. Measurements were carried out during two years: 2012 and 2013. Particle number and mass concentrations were measured using an optical counter with a PM10 analyzer. Results showed that concentrations of N0.3-1 (0.3-1 μm) were the highest, although similar to N1-2.5 (1-2.5 μm). Daily variability of the analyzed pollutants followed the traffic pattern. Moreover, NO2, O3, and particle number were higher during the day, whereas NO, NOx, and particle matter showed higher concentrations during nighttime. Traffic influence was evidenced by the mean concentrations of weekends and weekdays, being higher for the latter. Correlation of particles and gases with meteorological variables, together with the application of PCA confirmed the influence of vehicle exhaust discharges.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Remote Sensing and Meteorology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dayana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Agudelo-Castañeda
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Remote Sensing and Meteorology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil; Research Department, Fundação Estadual de Proteção Ambiental Henrique Luís Roessler, Av. Borges de Medeiros, 261, Porto Alegre, RS 90020-021, Brazil. Electronic address: gerpro.pesquisa@fepam.rs.gov.br.
authors.forename: Elba C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Remote Sensing and Meteorology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ismael L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Fundação Estadual de Proteção Ambiental Henrique Luís Roessler, Av. Borges de Medeiros, 261, Porto Alegre, RS 90020-021, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Researches and Nanotechnology Development, Centro Universitário La Salle, Av. Vitor Barreto, 2288, Canoas, RS 92010-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos L S
authors.initials: MLS
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Researches and Nanotechnology Development, Centro Universitário La Salle, Av. Vitor Barreto, 2288, Canoas, RS 92010-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvio R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Taffarel
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Researches and Nanotechnology Development, Centro Universitário La Salle, Av. Vitor Barreto, 2288, Canoas, RS 92010-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janaína L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sehn
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Researches and Nanotechnology Development, Centro Universitário La Salle, Av. Vitor Barreto, 2288, Canoas, RS 92010-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudete G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Researches and Nanotechnology Development, Centro Universitário La Salle, Av. Vitor Barreto, 2288, Canoas, RS 92010-000, Brazil. Electronic address: felipeqma@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Luis F O
authors.initials: LFO
authors.lastname: Silva
keywords: Airborne; Airborne particulate matter; Nitrogen oxides; Ozone; Particle number