PRELIMINARY AIR POLLUTION MONITORING IN SAN MIGUEL,

BUENOS AIRES
1
L. A. FAGUNDEZ, V. L. FERNÁNDEZ, T. H. MARINO, I. MARTÍN, D. A. PERSANO,
M. RIVAROLA y BENÍTEZ, I. V. SADAÑIOWSKI, J. CODNIA and A. ZALTS*
Instituto de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, San Miguel, Provincia de
Buenos Aires, Argentina
(* author for correspondence, e-mail: azalts@ungs.edu.ar)
..,
(Received 24 August, 1999; accepted 2 May, 2000)
Abstract. Passive diffusion samplers were employed in San Miguel (Buenos Aires
Metropolitan
Area) for a preliminary air pollution monitoring. The highest loads were observed in
downtown,
compared with an urban background site. Total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) varied
from
0.257 to 0.033 mg cm-2 month'<": dust was examined for particle nature and size
distribution. A
similar trend was observed for nitrogen dioxide (N02) and TSPM spatial distribution,
suggesting that
traffic is the major pollution source. Sulphur dioxide (S02) values were low and rather
homogeneous.
Levels for the investigated pollutants are below EPA's guide line values. Geographic (flat
area, near
to Rio de La Plata) and climatologic factors (rainfalls and variable wind directions) contribute
to
disperse pollutants.
Keywords: air monitoring, N02, particulate matter, passive sampler, S02
1. Introduction
!
Pollution consequences are enhanced in large urban areas, because of the high
number of inhabitants and the location of main anthropogenic pollution sources.
Climatological conditions determine turbulent particle diffusion and transporto The
larger particles can be deposited by gravity, but the fine particle fraction presents
a higher atmospheric residence time and respirable particle size. The evidence of
direct effects on public health is based primarily upon the results of epidemiolo-
gical studies which have used PMlO as a measure of airborne particles (COMEAP,
. 1995). The results suggest that the chemical composition of the aerosol does' not
have a major impact on the human health, but probably the mass, the number of
particles or even the surface area of the particles is the most important determinant
of their toxicity (Harrison el al., 1999). Unlike particulate, gases do not tend to
settle out of the air. They are actually removed from the atmosphere by turbulent
difussion, adsorption, absorption, e.g. on particulate matter, washed out by rain or
by chemical reactions. The gases are often very reactive and lead to multiple inter-
actions during their residence time in the atmosphere. Between the most reactive
oxidized nitrogen (NOx) and sulphur forms, NO, N20, N02 and S02, respectively,
are found as major pollutants. Further, NOx pollution contributes to ground levelozone, an
important component of photochemical smog, which affects many urban
areas throughout the world. Size and volume of particulate matter are also import-
ant when one consider the reactions of gases at the surface of the particles or the
reactions occurring within the particles themselves.
Since 1992, air quality monitoring is performed in Buenos Aires city (Bogo et
al., 1998). Recent data about airbome particles in La Plata area have been published
(Colombo et al., 1999). The lack of air quality data in the rest of Buenos Aires
metropolitan area makes it necessary to initiate diagnostic exploratory monitoring
to determine present conditions and trends. Diffusion tube samplers were used for
monitoring particulate matter, S02 and N02 concentrations in San Miguel during
October 1998. This method has been extensively used for monitoring atrnospheric
pollutants both in urban and rural areas (Schultz, 1993; Ferm and Svanberg, 1998;
Ayers et al., 1998; Lam el al., 1999). With this technique, the samples are taken
by diffusion, e.g., by leaving a filter in a passive tube sampler exposed to ambi-
ent air concentrations. After exposure, filters are analyzed by different techniques
(optical rnicroscopy and image processing, spectrophotometric deterrninations or
turbidimetric analysis). Passive diffusion sampling is one of the methods in which
monitoring networks for diagnostic purposes may be based (UNEP/WHO, 1994).
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. STUDY AREA - E VIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area, a large urban area with more than 13 rnillion
inhabitants, is located on the right shore of the Rio de la Plata, over a fiat terrain,
covering a surface of about 200 krrr'. San Miguel is a suburban region, situated
at about 30 km NW of Buenos Aires city. Concentrations of pollutants in the at-
mospheric boundary layer are determined by the ernission sources and are strongly
affected by the meteorological conditions. In spring (September to December in the
southem hemisphere), stable atrnospheric conditions are absent and the mean rnix-
ing heights range between 715 and 814 m (Ulke and Mazzeo, 1999). The sampling
was carried out during October 1998. For this period, the mean temperature in San
Miguel was 16.9 °C, ranging from 22.4 °C (mean maximum value) and 11.7 °C
(mean minimum value) with a relative humidity of 74%. It was one of the months
with heavier rainfall (148.8 mm as a mean value) and stronger wind. The wind
direction was variable.
2.2. SAMPLING AND SAMPLE ANALYSIS
In order to get a first diagnosis of pollutant levels (particulate matter, N02 and
S02), a prelirninary field study was carried out during October 1998 at seven
different locations in San Miguel (Figure 1). The urban configuration of this area
developed on the railway distribution, leading to heavy concentration of different commercial
activities in the surroundings of the train station. Sampling sites were
choosen in order to provide different urban environrnents, covering from the most
transited downtown, where the train station is located, to semi rural areas. Monit-
oring stations were situated at places where people are exposed to pollution over
longer periods. In order to capture the highest values of traffic induced pollution,
the samplers were installed in pairs at street level, at about 3 m above the ground.
For different pollutants, passive diffusion samplers were exposed during 18 to 26
days.
2.2.1. Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSPM)
The deposition samples were collected, using a sampling device (Figure 2) similar
to Sigma-2 (Schultz, 1993). The samplers were designed to achieve rain- and wind-
shielded partic1e sampling, preventing wet deposition almost completely. In spite
of the fact that windspeed and heavy rain can affect the partic1e size selection
efficiency of the sampler, acts its interior as a stilling chamber, minimizing partic1e
deposition by turbulent forces. The employed sampler geometry provided a sat-
isfactory size selective deposition. The maximum partic1e diameter obtained with
this sampler was around 100 iun. The samplers were made of PVc. Particulate
matter was collected inside the samplers on highly transparent PVC collecting
plates coated with a likewise transparent adhesive. igure 2. Sampling device for wind- and
rain-shielded particuJate matter deposition measurement.
1) Externa! cap with two windows. 2) Interior with two crossed windows. 3) Stilling chamber
for
rninimizing particle deposition by turbulent forces. 4) Collection plate coated with an
adhesive.
The TSPM, expressed in mg cm-
2 month"", was determined by the gravimetric
method. The collection plates were weighed before and after dust exposure, under
comparable humidity and temperature conditions, in a digital balance having an
accuracy of 0.1 mg. Optical microscopy (Leitz microscope with a CCD camera,
at 250 x magnification) was used for the analysis of particle deposition samples.
Digitalized images of different sectors of collection plates, with a pixel size of
1 ¡Lm and a spatial resolution of 3 iui: were obtained. Microscope photographs
of dust particles were analysed, using the National Institute of Health image pro-
cessing system NIH IMAGE. The microscopical particle analysis provides the total
number of particles for each sample, the dust covered area, and the mean optical
density of each particle. These data were used to calculate the total equivalent mass,
particle size distribution and mass concentrations of translucent and black particle
fractions. Microscopic evaluation provided the discrimination of particles in two
main groups: black carbon (e.g., soot agglomerates and tire rubber fragments) and
translucent particles, mainly due to minerals and biological matter.
Figure 3. Comparison between average TSPM (mg cm-
2 month+l ), N02 (ppb) and 502 (ppb)
values, determined at different sampling sites.
2.2.2. N02 and S02
High-dose diffusion samplers, with a coarse net for avoiding turbulent diffusion
inside the samplers, similar to those described by Ferm and Svanberg (1998), were
used for monitoring S02 and N02. The samplers were constructed by using com-
mercial polypropilene vials with a threaded cap at one end. An impregnated filter
was placed in the solid cap. The filter acts as an almost perfect sink of the pollutant.
A total of 21 samples (2 to 4 at each selected sampling place) were collected for
each gas.
For analyzing N02, Whatrnan filters, impregnated with a solution containing
potassium iodide (10 g), sodium arsenite (1 g), ethylene glycol (5 g) and meth-
anol (84 g), were prepared and exposed to air (Ferm, 1991). After exposure, the
filters were leached in distilled water and the NO;- concentrations were determined
by a spectrophotometric technique, after the aqueous solutions was mixed with a
diazoting agent.
For S02, the filters were impregnated with a 4% potasium carbonate aqueous
solution (Ferm, 1991). After exposure, the filters were treated with hydrogen per-
oxide (0.03%) to ensure complete oxidation to sulphate. This ion amount was
analysed adding BaCh to the leachates in acidic media. The turbidity due to the
formation of BaS04 was employed to estimate S02 content in air.
Figure 4. Microphotograph of dust particles coUected at site 1 (San Miguel downtown, urban
area).
3. Results and Discussion
Total particulate matter, collected by square centimeter per month (mg cm-
2
month "), and S02 and N02 concentrations (ppb) at each sampling site, are shown
in Figure 3. The sites 1 and 2 correspond to the downtown, a highly traffic-impacted
area with mass values for TSPM, three times as large than those obtained in more
residential areas (sites 3-6). Site 7, a less urbanized area with abundant vegeta-
tion, show the lowest deposition. The same trend was observed for N02. Ambient
levels of S02 are low compared with levels reported in urban areas of the northem
hemisphere. In all cases they were below 2.5 ppb, near the detection limit.
Photographs of dust particles obtained by optical microscopy are shown in Fig-
ures 4 (site 1) and 5 (site 7), for urban and urban background areas, respectively.
The coarse fraction of airbome particles, with a mean value at about 30 ¡Lm, is
mostly ground resuspended particulate matter. On the other hand, the fine frac-
tion is main anthropogenic, and may have direct effects on public health, as these
particles are deposited deeply into the lungs (Miranda, 1996). Figure 6 shows the
TSPM cumulative particle distribution curve at site 2, indicating that 90 and 50%
of the particles present a diameter lesser than 30 and 10 ¡Lm, respectively.
Figure 7 shows a reasonable correlation (R2 = 0.96) between the total particle
mass deterrnined by weighing the residue at each site and the equivalent mass,lculated
assuming a spherical particle shape and unit density (1 g cm>'), For all
sampling sites, a fraction of about 80% corresponding to translucent particles was
obtained (Figure 8). The results are similar to those obtained at a suburban site in
Berlín (Schultz, 1993). This fraction is mainly due to mineral or biological sources.
The other fraction is black carbono In average, particle densities are higher than the
assumed 1 g cm"? value, but lower than bulk densities of pure substances due to
pores, crack s and voids in the particles. As the density of most silicates is near 2 g
cm-
3
, there is expected in Figure 7 a slope value greater than unity. Translucent
dust level in the atrnosphere depends on the wind induced partic1e mobilization
from easily erodable surfaces, such as non paved roads, land filling areas, and other
uses of soil thateliminates its vegetation. Wind is effective to erode soil when its
speed is greater than 5 m S-l.
The results indicated that there are higher levels of both, N02 and TSPM, at
sampling sites located in downtown (Figure 3, sites 1 and 2) than in more res-
idential areas. In spite of the fact that the correlation factor between particulate
matter and N02 concent:rations is relatively weak (R2 = 0.68), a noticeable trend is
present, showing higher TSPM for higher N02 levels. The suspended particulate
matter concentrations on the street level would be mainly affected by mechanical
turbulence created by the moving vehicles and the wind. So, in the street canyon
configuration prevailing at sites 1 and 2 - but absent at the other sites - a tra-
verse wind across the street would create recirculation and increase the pol1utant
concentration, producing a lower correlation factor.
As far as gaseous pollutants are concerned, nitrogen dioxide is the most serious
air pollutant on the road side. Near1y half of all man-made NOx emissions come
from cars and other forms of transport, the remainder coming mainly from power
stations and industrial boilers (Radojevic, 1998). In San Miguel, cars are the most
important pollution source. In spite of the benefitial catalytic converter action, redu-
cing NOx emissions and converting them back to N2, they are not installed in older
models. Obsolescence of the local automobile fieet, which has líttle proportion of
catalytic equipped units, and the intense circulation of diesel-powered buses and
trucks contribute to enhance atmospheric pollution problems. During 1999, special
facilities were given to car owners to change older models (lO yr or more) for
new cars. TSPM and N02 concentrations are expected to decrease with this partial
automobile fieet replacement, but its benefical effects probably will be insignificant
in poorer suburban regions.
In spite of the fact that the number of analysed samples is relatively small,
the data presented in this diagnostic monitoring campaign, are important in order
to estimate the levels and obtain a prelíminary spatial distribution of pollutants.
The lack of historical air quality data makes jt necessary to initiate monitoring
campaigns. The knowledge of air quality in suburban residential and industrial
regions is a powerfull aid to the understanding of pollution - its origin, transport
and fate - in large urban areas as Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area.