Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health and Costs: Current Situation in São Paulo, Brazil

This study focused on verifying whether the emission of air pollutants in São Paulo increases the costs and number of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in Brazil. Data on pollutant emissions, hospitalizations, and hospital costs were collected from 2008 to 2017 and correlated with air quality standards. The results showed that the concentration of particulate matter increased each year during the study period and was highly correlated with hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases. Ozone (O3) was within the quality standard throughout the study period but registered an increase in the mean and a positive correlation with hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases. The carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were within the quality standards throughout the study period with a decrease in the last years studied, but showed a positive correlation with hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases. The pollutant emissions and hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases had an inverse relationship with the monthly rainfall curve for São Paulo, which indicates that rainfall tended to reduce pollutant emissions and consequently hospitalizations due to inhalation of these pollutants. Because costs are directly associated with hospitalizations, both increased during the study period—302,000 hospitalizations at an average cost of 368 USD resulted in a total cost of 111 million USD. To reduce these costs, Brazil should implement stricter policies to improve the air quality of its major cities and develop a viable alternative to diesel vehicles.

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Characterization of Air-Quality Degradation Episodes of PM10 in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo and Their Relationship with Meteorological Conditions

Environmental Sciences Proceedings ◽

10.3390/ecas2020-08143 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 8

Author(s):

Maria C. Q. D. Oliveira ◽

Luciana V. Rizzo ◽

Anita Drumond

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Metropolitan Area ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Meteorological Conditions ◽

Pollutant Emissions ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

São Paulo ◽

Urban Centers ◽

Duration Distribution ◽

Air Quality Monitoring Stations

Air pollution is one of the main environmental problems in large urban centers, affecting people’s health and impacting quality of life. The Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) presents frequent exceedances of air-quality standards in inhalable particulate matter (PM10), a consequence of pollutant emissions modulated by meteorological conditions. This study aims to identify and characterize PM10persistent exceedance events (PEE) inthe MASP between 2005 and 2017, relating them to meteorological conditions. The criteria used to select the events were: (i) events that occurred in at least 50% of the air-quality monitoring stations chosen for this study and, (ii) among the events that met the first criterion, those with a duration equal to or greater than five days, which correspond to the 80% percentile of the event duration distribution. A total 71 persistent episodes of exceedance were selected. The results show that the exceedance of PM10 lasted up to 14 consecutive days and was predominant in the austral winter, accompanied by an increase in maximum temperature (T), a decrease in wind speed (WS) and relative humidity (RH), and a wind direction predominantly from the northwest during the peak concentration of the pollutant. On average, a concentration increase of 60% was observed at the peak of the PEE.

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Air Quality Standards and Extreme Ozone Events in the São Paulo Megacity

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11133725 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (13) ◽

pp. 3725 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Júlio Barboza Chiquetto ◽

Maria Elisa Siqueira Silva ◽

William Cabral-Miranda ◽

Flávia Noronha Dutra Ribeiro ◽

Sergio Alejandro Ibarra-Espinosa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Cost Analysis ◽

Quality Standards ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Vulnerable Population ◽

Population Exposure ◽

São Paulo ◽

Air Quality Standards ◽

Paulo State ◽

São Paulo State

Ozone events in South America might be triggered by increasing air temperatures and dry conditions, leading to vulnerable population exposure. The current air quality standards and attention levels in São Paulo state, Brazil, are 40% higher and 25% higher, respectively, than the limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). We simulated an extreme ozone event in the São Paulo megacity using the Weather Research and Forecast/Chemistry model during an extreme event characterized by positive anomalies of air temperature and solar radiation. Results were evaluated using the different air quality limits from São Paulo state and the WHO, also with socioeconomic vulnerability data from the Brazilian census and cost analysis for the public health system from the extreme episode. More than 3 million people in vulnerability conditions, such as low income and families with an above-average percentage of children, live in areas where ozone concentrations exceeded the attention levels of the WHO during the episode, which is ignored by the lenient SP state environmental laws. WHO air quality guidelines must be adopted urgently in developing nations in order to provide a more accurate basis for cost analysis and population exposure, particularly the for vulnerable population groups.

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Análise do Panorama da Poluição Atmosférica no Município de São Paulo e os Impactos na Saúde Cardiorrespiratória

REVISTA PLURI ◽

10.26843/rpv112018p263-274 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 263

Author(s):

Karina Camasmie Abe ◽

Nilza Maria Coradi Araújo ◽

Simone Georges El Khouri Miraglia

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Generalized Linear Model ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Particulate Material ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Pollutant Emissions ◽

São Paulo ◽

Study Objective ◽

The City

A poluição do ar pode provocar diversas doenças, como respiratórias e cardiovasculares, levando ao aumento da morbimortalidade. Este estudo avaliou, no período entre os anos de 2003 a 2013, para o município de São Paulo, os impactos causados à saúde cardiorrespiratória da população em decorrência da poluição atmosférica. Foram realizadas análises descritivas e estatísticas, como a correlação de Pearson e o modelo linear generalizado com distribuição de Poisson, para verificar as associações entre poluentes (Ozônio - O3 e Material Particulado com diâmetro até 10mm - PM10) e a mortalidade por doenças cardiorrespiratórias. Foi também objetivo deste trabalho analisar as concentrações desses poluentes e sua relação aos padrões estabelecidos pela legislação nacional e recomendações mundiais. Os resultados indicaram o aumento, no risco relativo, para óbito por doença cardiovascular e respiratória, de 2,162% e 4,040%, respectivamente, para exposições ao PM10. Para exposição ao O3 o risco é aumentado em 0,464% e 0,786%, para óbitos por doenças cardiovasculares e respiratórias, respectivamente. Os resultados deste trabalho reforçam que a poluição do ar promove efeitos adversos, o que implica em perdas econômicas, sociais e à saúde da população. Portanto, políticas públicas que visem à diminuição das emissões de poluentes são imprescindíveis, assim como a revisão dos padrões de qualidade do ar, pelos órgãos competentes.Palavras-Chave: Poluição do Ar; Doenças Cardiorespiratórias; Padrões de Qualidade do ar; Ozônio, Material Particulado.AbstractAir pollution can cause several diseases, such as respiratory and cardiovascular, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated the impacts to population´s cardiorespiratory health due to air pollution in the period between 2003 and 2013 in the city of São Paulo. Descriptive and statistical analyzes were performed, such as Pearson correlation and the generalized linear model according to Poisson distribution, to verify the associations between pollutants (Ozone - O3 and Particulate Material with diameter up to 10mm - PM10) and mortality by cardiorespiratory diseases. It was also this study objective to analyze the concentrations of these pollutants and their relation to the standards established by national legislation and world recommendations. The results indicated an increase, in relative risk, for death due to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, of 2.162% and 4.040%, respectively, for PM10 exposures. For exposure to O3, the risk is increased by 0.464% and 0.786% for deaths by cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, respectively. This work results reinforce that air pollution promotes adverse effects, which implies economic, social and population’s health losses. Therefore, public policies aimed at reducing pollutant emissions are essential, as is the review of air quality standards by competent entities.Keywords: Air Pollution; Cardiorespiratory Diseases; Air Quality Levels; Ozone; Particulate Matter

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Ozone Pollution and Urban Mobility Scenarios in the São Paulo Megacity

Ambiente & sociedade ◽

10.1590/1809-4422asoc20190008r2vu2020l6ao ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

Author(s):

Júlio Barboza Chiquetto ◽

Rita Yuri Ynoue ◽

Sergio Alejandro Ibarra-Espinosa ◽

Flávia Noronha Dutra Ribeiro ◽

William Cabral-Miranda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Environmental Justice ◽

Quality Standard ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Transport Systems ◽

São Paulo ◽

Urban Mobility ◽

Ozone Pollution ◽

Free Zone ◽

Sustainable Transition

Abstract Air pollution is associated to poor urban mobility conditions, as in the megacity of São Paulo. Three scenarios of policies of driving restrictions were simulated using the WRF/Chem model, to assess the impacts on ozone pollution and the consequences for environmental justice: urban toll, sustainable transition, and vehicle free zone. Results show that the urban toll leads to a decrease of 20 µg.m-3 in maximum 8-hour ozone averages and the prevention of six hours of exceedances of the air quality standard. Sustainable transition was the most promising scenario, with a decrease of 50 µg.m-3 and avoiding 22 hours of exceedances. The vehicle free zone did not show any advantages. For the implementation of adequate public transport systems, massive investments are required, in order to achieve better air quality with the greatest environmental justice possible, aiming towards the protection of human health along with a more democratic access to the urban spaces.

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Tillandsia usneoides: A successful alternative for biomonitoring changes in air quality due to a new highway in São Paulo, Brazil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-017-9033-2 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (13) ◽

pp. 12015-12015

Author(s):

Poliana Cardoso-Gustavson ◽

Francine Faia Fernandes ◽

Edenise Segala Alves ◽

Mariana Pereira Victorio ◽

Barbara Baesso Moura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

São Paulo ◽

Tillandsia Usneoides

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Spatio-temporal of surface ozone (O3) variations at urban and suburban sites in Sarawak region of Malaysia

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/880/1/012004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 880 (1) ◽

pp. 012004

Author(s):

H Mahidin ◽

M T Latif ◽

A Hamdan ◽

J Salleh ◽

D Dominick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Surface Ozone ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Quality Standard ◽

Transportation Systems ◽

Pollutant Emissions ◽

Daily Maximum ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

Ambient Air Quality Standard ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Sarawak Region of Malaysia is currently experiencing a high demand for capital needs such as transformation forest to plantations, economic development, and improving transportation systems. Those land cover changes will increase primary pollutant emissions and trigger surface O3 formation. Surface O3 is a secondary pollutant and a significant greenhouse gas contributing to climate change and declining air quality. In this study, variations in surface O3 concentrations at urban and suburban sites in Sarawak were explored using the Malaysian Department of Environment data spanning a two-year cycle (2018-2019). The primary aim of this study is to ascertain the variation of surface O3 concentrations reported at four monitoring stations in Sarawak, namely Kuching (SQ1) (Urban), Sibu (SQ2) (Suburban), Bintulu (SQ3) (Suburban), and Miri (SQ4) (Suburban). The study also analysed the relationship between O3 distribution and nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2). The findings showed that O3 concentrations observed in the region during the study period were lower than the maximum permissible value of 100 ppbv suggested by the Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Standard (2020). SQ4 (Miri) at suburban sites recorded the highest average surface O3 concentrations with an hourly average and daily maximum O3 concentration of 15.7 and 89.5 ppbv, respectively. Temperatures, UV exposure, and wind speed all impact the concentration of surface O3 in Sarawak. In all stations, concentrations of O3 were inversely linked with NO, NO2, and relative humidity (RH). This research will assist the relevant agency in forecast, monitor, and mitigate the level of O3 in the ambient environment, especially in the Sarawak Region.

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Analisis pengaruh V/C ratio lalu lintas kendaraan terhadap tingkat polusi udara berdasarkan volume lalu lintas kendaraan (studi di kawasan persimpangan Mall SKA Kota Pekanbaru)

Jurnal Zona ◽

10.52364/jz.v2i2.26 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 64-74

Author(s):

Muhammad Yevizal ◽

Aras Mulyadi ◽

Ferry Fatnanta

Keyword(s):

Quality Standards ◽

Quality Standard ◽

Observation Point ◽

Pollutant Emissions ◽

Noise Levels ◽

The Road ◽

Road Users ◽

Bus Lane ◽

On The Road ◽

The City

Completion of the transportation problems in the city of Pekanbaru currently only looked at in terms of congestion, but not touching insights from environmental aspects such as performance air pollution and noise levels. This research was conducted at the observation point road ahead Repair Tambusai lord Eastern Daihatshu, road Tuanku Tambusai West Side Mall SKA, North Soekarno Hatta street front retail outlets, street front Soekarno Hatta South Hotel Ibis Pekanbaru. V / C Ratio highest in the afternoon rush hour on the road ahead Tambusai lord Stations Daihatsu ie 0.86 pelyanan road performance E. Quality Standard ambient NOx emissions do not exceed the threshold of ambient quality standards, the NOx emission = 281.76 mg/m3. Quality Standard ambient CO emissions do not exceed the threshold of ambient quality standards, namely emission = 7456.79 mg/m3, the noise level over the limit of noise that is 71.41 dB (A). To balance the load reduction in pollutant emissions and noise levels at the flyover plan with the plan of special bus lane traffic volume assumptions have to move 25% of the transfer of the road users of private vehicles and motorbikes switch to using mass public transport vehicles ie Trans Metro bus Pekanbaru.

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Air Quality During Mobility Restrictions in Sao Paulo State Municipalities

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3939417 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Samirys Sara Rodrigues Cirqueira ◽

Patricia Rodrigues ◽

Pedro Branco ◽

Evangelina Vormittag ◽

Rafael Nunes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

São Paulo ◽

Paulo State ◽

São Paulo State

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A Complex Network Method in Criticality Evaluation of Air Quality Standards

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11143920 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (14) ◽

pp. 3920 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yongchang Wei ◽

Lei Chen ◽

Yu Qi ◽

Can Wang ◽

Fei Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Complex Network ◽

Technological Development ◽

Citation Network ◽

Quality Standards ◽

Quality Standard ◽

Entropy Weight ◽

Air Quality Standards ◽

Structural Problems ◽

Network Method

In recent years, poor air quality has brought serious threats to public health and sustainable development. The air quality standard is an effective prerequisite to ensure the quality of the air. The citation relationships between air quality standards at a certain time point, which reflect technological development and knowledge transition, form a complex network. In this study, an integrated multi-criteria decision making method is proposed to measure the criticality of standards based on a dynamic citation network model. In particular, the Entropy Weight (EW) method is used to set the weights of each node measurement to avoid subjectiveness, while the TOPSIS method is employed to measure the criticality for each air quality standard. A case study based on the data of 444 of China’s national air quality standards reveals that the complex network method facilitates the identification of critical standards effectively. In addition, we found that there exist some structural problems in China’s air quality standard system: the connectivity between standards is insufficient; critical standards are lacking; and the critical standards change over time following the issue of national policies. Finally, policy suggestions are recommended on strengthening inter-standard citation, attaching importance to the revision of critical standards, and the dynamics of critical standards.

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Evaluating the impact of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter on mortality among the elderly

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aba5692 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (29) ◽

pp. eaba5692 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

X. Wu ◽

D. Braun ◽

J. Schwartz ◽

M. A. Kioumourtzoglou ◽

F. Dominici

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Quality Standards ◽

The Elderly ◽

Quality Standard ◽

Causal Link ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

The Impact ◽

Current Standards

Many studies link long-term fine particle (PM2.5) exposure to mortality, even at levels below current U.S. air quality standards (12 micrograms per cubic meter). These findings have been disputed with claims that the use of traditional statistical approaches does not guarantee causality. Leveraging 16 years of data—68.5 million Medicare enrollees—we provide strong evidence of the causal link between long-term PM2.5 exposure and mortality under a set of causal inference assumptions. Using five distinct approaches, we found that a decrease in PM2.5 (by 10 micrograms per cubic meter) leads to a statistically significant 6 to 7% decrease in mortality risk. Based on these models, lowering the air quality standard to 10 micrograms per cubic meter would save 143,257 lives (95% confidence interval, 115,581 to 170,645) in one decade. Our study provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of the link between long-term PM2.5 exposure and mortality, even at levels below current standards.

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