title: Concentrations of PM₂.₅₋₁₀ and PM₂.₅ and metallic elements around the Schmidt Stream area, in the Sinos River Basin, southern Brazil.
abstract: This research aimed to evaluate the air quality, by determining the concentrations of PM2.5-10, PM2.5 and the metallic elements Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg in the leaf part of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in an area close to Schmidt Stream, at the lower section of Sinos River Basin (SRB), in a research campaign of six months, from October 2013 to March 2014. The particles collected in the PM sampling were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS), in order to study their morphology and chemical composition. The mean concentration of PM2.5-10 was 9.1 µg m(-3), with a range of 2.2 µg m(-3) to 15.4 µg m(-3) and the mean concentration of PM2.5 was 4.7 µg m(-3), with a range of 1.9 µg m(-3) to 8.2 µg m(-3). Concentrations of metallic elements, especially Pb, Cr and Zn, were classified as Class 4 (very high pollution levels), according to the classification proposed by Klumpp et al. (2004). Chemical and morphological analysis of PM revealed the presence of particles of biological origin, soot (Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb), salts (KCl) and soil resuspension (Al and Si). The integrated study methodology, employing environmental variables, such as PM and ryegrass, can be of help in the preparation of wide-ranging environmental diagnoses, in addition providing information needed to develop precautionary measures designed to minimize the effects of atmospheric pollution that takes into consideration the environment's supportive capacity and environmental quality.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Qualidade Ambiental, Universidade Feevale, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Qualidade Ambiental, Universidade Feevale, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: D M M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Osório
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Qualidade Ambiental, Universidade Feevale, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade Feevale, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Illi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade Feevale, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bianchin
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Benvenuti
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical