This thesis deals with the issues associated with the legal regulation of air quality protection. The main objective is to describe, analyse and evaluate the condition of the current legal regulation which is mainly represented by the Act no. 201/2012 Coll., on the protection of air. The introductory part of the thesis focuses on the historical development of the legal regulation, its primary milestones, as well as legal regulation according to International and European Law and its impact on the internal national legislation. Furthermore, the thesis also focuses on the currently valid legal regulation and its components and clarifies its basic terminology. The largest portion of the thesis focuses on the legal regulation of the individual instruments regulated primarily by the Act no. 201/2012 Coll., on the protection of air, with the primary focus being the stationary sources of pollution. These instruments are sorted into traditional groups, each respectively representing conceptual, administrative-legal and economic instruments. The chapter on conceptual instruments primarily focuses on the two fundamental instrumental programs, that is a) - The National Emission Reduction Program of the Czech Republic, and b) - programs aimed at improving air quality and their importance in legal regulation....

O presente estudo visa à obtenção de um modelo utilizando o acoplamento dos códigos WRF e CALPUFF com o objetivo de obter as características do campo meteorológico e da dispersão dos poluentes NO2 e SO2 de uma Usina Termelétrica localizada em Linhares. Foi utilizada uma grade de 100×100 células, com resolução de 1 km durante 90 h. Para vias de comparação, outra simulação foi feita sem a entrada do modelo WRF no CALMET, utilizando uma grade 15×15 sem modificar nenhum outro parâmetro. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com dados do aeroporto de Vitória e com a legislação ambiental vigente. Para a camada limite planetária, o resultado obtido da simulação WRF/CALMET se encontra dentro da faixa encontrada na literatura. Os demais resultados, média de velocidade e direção do vento, para as duas simulações diferem entre si e dos dados do aeroporto, fato que já era esperado devido à distância e orografia entre a Usina e os dados da estação utilizados como entrada nos modelos. A concentração máxima obtida para os poluentes estudados se encontram dentro dos padrões de qualidade do ar. Devido à falta de dados observacionais, não foi possível uma genuína validação dos resultados, mas, sabendo a localização dos picos, foi possível sugerir locais de amostragem para futura comprovação dos resultados. / This study aims to create a model using the coupling of the WRF and CALPUFF codes in order to obtain characteristics of the meteorological field and the dispersion of pollutants NO2 and SO2 of a power plant located at the city of Linhares. The field consists of a grid of 100×100 cells resolution of 1 km for 90 h. Another simulation was made without using WRF as an input into CALMET, in the purpose of comparison, using a 15×15 grid and no change of other parameters. The results were compared to data from the airport of Vitória and against environmental legislation. For the planetary boundary layer the results of WRF/CALMET simulation are within the range found in the literature. The results of average wind speed and direction obtained by both simulations are different from each other and from the data of the airport,such as expected due to the distance and orography of the power plant and station data used as input into the models. The maximum concentrations of the pollutants are within air quality standards. Due to lack of observational data, genuine validation of the results is not feasible, but knowing the location of the concentration peak, it was possible to propose suitable sampling sites for future verification.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi o analisar o impacto da resolução dos conjuntos de dados topográficos nas simulações das concentrações de dióxido de enxofre (SO2) emitido por uma fonte localizada no Sul do Brasil. Para isso foram realizadas duas simulações aplicando o modelo regional Weather Research and Forecasting acoplado com a química (WRF/Chem), configurado com duas representações do terreno de diferentes resoluções espaciais. Foram utilizados os dados padrão do modelo com melhor resolução, Global 30 Arc-Second Elevation (GTOPO), com aproximadamente 1 km, e inserido no bancos de dados do modelo as informações de terreno em alta-resolução do Radar Shuttle Topography Mission (SRTM) (30 metros). Para as emissões antrópicas do modelo foi elaborado um programa capaz inserir os volumes do poluente SO2 de forma horária expelidos pela chaminé, de acordo com as taxas de emissão medidos diretamente na fonte. O programa representou a emissão do poluente no ponto de grade correspondente a localização e a altura acima da superfície da chaminé da fonte. As simulações foram configuradas com os seguintes esquemas de parametrização: para microfísica de nuvens foi utilizado o Goddard Cumulus Ensemble; os esquemas de radiação de onda longa e curta foram o Goddard e o Rapid Radiative Transfer Model para modelos de circulação geral da atmosfera (MCGA); para a parametrização de cumulus o esquema utilizado foi o Grell 3D Ensemble Scheme; e para os esquemas de camada superficial e camada limite planetária foram utilizados os da teoria da similaridade do Fifth-Generation National Center for Atmospheric Research/Penn State Mesoscale Model (MM5) e o Yonsey University, respectivamente. A escolha desta combinação de esquemas foi definida a partir de um estudo inicial da sensibilidade do modelo à mudança das parametrizações. Os resultados dos experimentos numéricos alterando a topografia foram validados a partir dos dados de monitoramento das estações meteorológica e da qualidade do ar pertencentes à empresa responsável pelo empreendimento associado à fonte. Foi observado que as simulações com os dados SRTM expressaram o terreno da região de estudo mais próximo à realidade, representando o aspecto heterogêneo do relevo, ressaltando os picos e os vales. Os resultados das validações meteorológicas utilizando os dados topográficos indicaram melhoras nas simulações das variáveis meteorológicas: temperatura, umidade relativa, velocidade do vento e precipitação. Os experimentos com os dados topográficos GTOPO e SRTM no modelo WRF/Chem, configurado com as emissões horárias da fonte de Candiota, reproduziram o comportamento dos ventos para transporte de SO2 até as estações de monitoramento conforme os dados observados. Porém foram identificados padrões diferentes na representação das concentrações do poluente entre as duas simulações do modelo, associados aos escoamentos dos ventos representados pelos experimentos. A resolução da topografia afetou na simulação de SO2 devido ao aumento da forçante superficial induzida pelo terreno. Este aumento na forçante, influenciou a advecção da pluma de SO2, resultando em diferentes padrões das concentrações de SO2 no ponto de grade correspondente às estações de monitoramento. Contudo, os resultados das simulações das concentrações de SO2, tanto de forma horária quanto na abordagem das médias diárias, não indicaram uma relação linear entre a utilização de dados em alta resolução e a melhora na representação do SO2 pelo modelo WRF/Chem. / The objective of this work was to analyze the impact of the higher resolution topographic data sets in the simulations of the Sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations emitted by a source located Southern Brazil. Two simulations were performed applying the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry – WRF/Chem, configured with two representations of the terrain with different spatial resolutions. The standard data of the model with the best resolution (approximately 1 km), Global 30 Arc-Second Elevation (GTOPO), and was inserted in the model databases the high-resolution (30 meters) terrain information of the Radar Shuttle Topography Mission (SRTM). For the anthropic emissions of the model, a program was developed capable of inserting the hourly SO2 pollutant volumes expelled by the chimney, according to the emission rates measured directly at the source. The program inserted these emissions into the grid point corresponding to the location and height above the surface of the emission source. The simulations were configured with the following parameterization schemes: for cloud microphysics Goddard Cumulus Ensemble; for the long and short wave radiation treatment it was used the Goddard and the Rapid Radiative Transfer Model for general circulation models; for the cumulus parameterization the scheme it was used the Grell 3D Ensemble Scheme; and for the surface layer and planetary boundary layer schemes, the similarity theory of the Fifth-Generation National Center for Atmospheric Research/Penn State Mesoscale Model (MM5) and the Yonsey University, respectively. The choice of this combination of schemes was defined from an initial study of the sensitivity of the model to the change of parametrizations. The results of the numerical experiments altering the topography were validated from the monitoring data of the meteorological stations and the air quality belonging to the company responsible for the enterprise associated to the source. It was observed that the simulations with the SRTM data expressed the terrain of the region of study closest to reality, representing the heterogeneous aspect of the terrain, highlighting the peaks and valleys. The results of the meteorological validations using the new topographic data indicated an improvement in the simulations of the meteorological variables: temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and precipitation. The experiments with the GTOPO and SRTM topographic data in WRF/Chem model, configured with the hourly emissions of the Candiota source, reproduced the winds behavior that transported the SO2 to the monitoring stations according to the observed data. However, different patterns were identified in the pollutant concentrations between the two simulations of the model, associated to the wind flows represented by the experiments. The topography resolution affected in the simulation of SO2 due to the increase of the surface forcing induced by the terrain. This increase in the forcing influenced the advection of the SO2 plume, resulting in different patterns of SO2 concentrations at the grid point corresponding to the monitoring stations. However, the results of simulations of SO2 concentrations, both hourly and in the approach of daily averages, did not indicate a linear relationship between the use of high resolution data and the improvement in the representation of SO2 by WRF/Chem model.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Com cada vez mais intenso desenvolvimento urbano e industrial, atualmente um desafio fundamental é eliminar ou reduzir o impacto causado pelas emissões de poluentes para a atmosfera. No ano de 2012, o Rio de Janeiro sediou a Rio +20, a Conferência das Nações Unidas sobre Desenvolvimento Sustentável, onde representantes de todo o mundo participaram. Na época, entre outros assuntos foram discutidos a economia verde e o desenvolvimento sustentável. O O3 troposférico apresenta-se como uma variável extremamente importante devido ao seu forte impacto ambiental, e conhecer o comportamento dos parâmetros que afetam a qualidade do ar de uma região, é útil para prever cenários. A química das ciências atmosféricas e meteorologia são altamente não lineares e, assim, as previsões de parâmetros de qualidade do ar são difíceis de serem determinadas. A qualidade do ar depende de emissões, de meteorologia e topografia. Os dados observados foram o dióxido de nitrogênio (NO2), monóxido de nitrogênio (NO), óxidos de nitrogênio (NOx), monóxido de carbono (CO), ozônio (O3), velocidade escalar vento (VEV), radiação solar global (RSG), temperatura (TEM), umidade relativa (UR) e foram coletados através da estação móvel de monitoramento da Secretaria do Meio Ambiente (SMAC) do Rio de Janeiro em dois locais na área metropolitana, na Pontifícia Universidade Católica (PUC-Rio) e na Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) no ano de 2011 e 2012. Este estudo teve três objetivos: (1) analisar o comportamento das variáveis, utilizando o método de análise de componentes principais (PCA) de análise exploratória, (2) propor previsões de níveis de O3 a partir de poluentes primários e de fatores meteorológicos, comparando a eficácia dos métodos não lineares, como as redes neurais artificiais (ANN) e regressão por máquina de vetor de suporte (SVM-R), a partir de poluentes primários e de fatores meteorológicos e, finalmente, (3) realizar método de classificação de dados usando a classificação por máquina de vetor suporte (SVM-C). A técnica PCA mostrou que, para conjunto de dados da PUC as variáveis NO, NOx e VEV obtiveram um impacto maior sobre a concentração de O3 e o conjunto de dados da UERJ teve a TEM e a RSG como as variáveis mais importantes. Os resultados das técnicas de regressão não linear ANN e SVM obtidos foram muito próximos e aceitáveis para o conjunto de dados da UERJ apresentando coeficiente de determinação (R2) para a validação, 0,9122 e 0,9152 e Raiz Quadrada do Erro Médio Quadrático (RMECV) 7,66 e 7,85, respectivamente. Quanto aos conjuntos de dados PUC e PUC+UERJ, ambas as técnicas, obtiveram resultados menos satisfatórios. Para estes conjuntos de dados, a SVM mostrou resultados ligeiramente superiores, e PCA, SVM e ANN demonstraram sua robustez apresentando-se como ferramentas úteis para a compreensão, classificação e previsão de cenários da qualidade do ar / With increasingly intense urban and industrial development, currently a key challenge is to eliminate or reduce the impact caused by emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere. In the year 2012, the Rio de Janeiro hosted the Rio +20, the United Nations Conference about Sustainable Development, where representatives from around the world participated. At the time, among other issues discussed were the green economy and sustainable development. The tropospheric O3 presents itself as an extremely crucial variable due to its strong environmental impact, and knowing the behavior of the parameters that affect the air quality of a region, is useful for predicting scenarios. The chemistry of atmospheric sciences and meteorology are highly nonlinear and thus the forecasts of air quality parameters are hard to be determined. Air quality depends on emissions, meteorology and topography. The observed data were Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Nitrogen Monoxide (NO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Scalar Wind Speed (VEV), Global Solar Radiation (RSG), Temperature (TEM), Relative Humidity (UR) and collected through the mobile station monitoring the Secretaria do Meio Ambiente (SMAC) of Rio de Janeiro City in two places in the metropolitan area at Pontíficia Universidade Católica (PUC-Rio) and the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) at years 2011 and 2012. This study had three objectives: (1) to analyze the behavior of the variables, using the method of principal components analysis (PCA) of exploratory analysis; (2) propose forecasts of O3 levels from primary pollutants and meteorological factors, comparing the effectiveness of nonlinear methods like as artificial neural networks (ANN) and support vector machine regression (SVM-R), from primary pollutants and meteorological factors and finally, (3) perform data classification method using support vector machine classification (SVM-C). The PCA technique showed that for PUC dataset, variables NO, NOx and VSV have a greater impact on the concentration of O3 and the UERJ data set had the temperature (TEM) and Global Solar Radiation (RSG) as the most important variables. The results from the nonlinear regression techniques ANN and SVM obtained were very closely and acceptable to UERJ dataset presenting coefficient of determination (R2) for validation, 0.9122 and 0.9152 and Root Mean Square Error (RMECV) 7.66 and 7.85, respectively. As for the PUC and PUC + UERJ datasets, both techniques, obtained less satisfactory results. For these datasets, the SVM proved results slightly higher, and PCA, SVM and ANN had demonstrated their robustness presenting themselves as useful tools for understanding, classification and prediction scenarios for air quality

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A frota de veículos movidos por biocombustíveis tem aumentado nos últimos dez anos e com isso as emissões para a atmosfera nas cidades têm sofrido alterações. Devido a esta problemática, estudos com modelos de previsão de emissões são o foco deste trabalho. Alguns modelos, homologados por agências de regulamentação de alguns países ou comunidades, servem de base para as análises de risco com auxílio de simulação.O objetivo geral deste trabalho é avaliar o impacto do uso de biocombustíveis na qualidade do ar na cidade do Rio de Janeiro e estudar cenários de qualidade do ar, em função do aumento da quantidade de biodiesel e álcool adicionada ao diesel e gasolina. Nesta dissertação, monóxido de carbono, óxidos de nitrogênio, compostos orgânicos voláteis e ozônio são os principais poluentes estudados para a cidade do Rio de Janeiro. A avaliação de cenários foi realizada empregando um modelo de qualidade do ar com base no modelo de trajetórias OZIPR e no modelo químico SAPRC. Os resultados demonstram que o aumento do uso de biodiesel diminui a concentração de ozônio na atmosfera em relação ao caso base estudado, em 10,23% utilizando a mistura BE Diesel, em 5,28% utilizando a mistura B20 e apenas 0,33% utilizando a mistura B10. Isso de fato acontece pois o biodiesel possuiu mais oxigenados na sua estrutura. O estudo revelou o aumento nas emissões e concentrações de NOx na troposfera da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, para as mistura de BE- Diesel, B20 e o B10 em relação ao caso base, foram de 5,66%, 2,83% e 0% respectivamente. Em especial na cidade do Rio de janeiro existe um consumodo O3 pelo NO presente na atmosfera urbana. A redução na concentração de CO para as misturas de BE- Diesel, B20 e o B10 em relação ao caso base, foram de 13,11%, 6,56% e 4,12% respectivamente. O aumento da disponibilidade de oxigênio presente no biodiesel produz uma melhor queima do combustível, contribuindo para uma menor concentração de CO na troposfera / The fleet of vehicles powered by biofuels has increased in the last ten years. The increased use of ethanol in gasoline or biodiesel in diesel impact emissions on the atmosphere of cities. Due to this problem modeling studies to predict emissions is the issue of this work. Some models, approved by regulatory agencies in some countries or communities, are the basis for risk analysis with the aid of simulation. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of biofuels on the air quality of the city of Rio de Janeiro and to study scenarios for air quality, due to the increase of the amount of biodiesel added to diesel and alcohol added to gasoline. In this dissertation, the main pollutants in the city of Rio de Janeiro CO, NOx and O3 are taken into account. A review of the main types of mathematical models assists as the basis of study, and an evaluation of the scenarios was performed using a model of air quality based on the trajectory model OZIPR associated with SAPRC chemical model. The results show that the increase in biodiesel use reduces ozone levels in the atmosphere, regarding the base case studied, in 10.23% using BE-Diesel mixture, in 5.28 % using B20 mixture and only 0.33 % using B10. One of the reasons is the fact that biodiesel has a more oxygenated chain within its structure. This study presented an increase on NOx emissions and concentrations on the troposphere of the city of Rio de Janeiro, by 5.66 %, 2.83 % and 0 % for BE-Diesel mixture, B20 and B10, respectively, when compare with the base case. At the city of Rio de Janeiro troposphere ozone low levels is attributed to the ozone consumption by NO. The CO concentration reduction for the BE-Diesel, B20 and B10, when compared with the base case, were 13.11 %, 6.56 % and 4.12 %, respectively. The presence of oxygen atoms within the biodiesel chain leads to a better combustion process, reducing CO emissions and consequently CO concentrations on the atmosphere

Atmospheric trace components play a critical role in the earth–atmosphere system through their interaction and perturbation to global atmospheric chemistry. They perturb the climate through scattering and absorbing of solar radiation (direct effects), thereby impacting on the heat energy balance of the atmosphere, and alter cloud microphysical properties affecting cloud formation, cloud lifetime and precipitation formation (indirect effects). These trace components can also have adverse effects on human health, visibility and air quality (AQ) composition, including various feedback processes on the state of the atmosphere. As well as their direct and indirect effects, aerosols are important for cloud formation. They serve as cloud condensation and ice nuclei (CCN and IN) during cloud droplet and ice crystal formations. Although many connections between clouds and aerosol effects have been established in cloud physics and climate modelling, aerosol–cloud interaction (ACI) is still one of the areas of large uncertainties in modern climate and weather projections. Different models have been developed placing much emphasis on ACIs, to have robust and more consistent description processes within the meteorological and chemical variables to account for ACIs and feedback processes. Because pollutant distributions are controlled by a specific meteorology that promotes residence times and vertical mixing in the atmosphere, reliable chemical composition measurements are required to understand the changes occurring in the earth–atmosphere system. Also, because atmospheric pollution is a combination of both natural and man-made (anthropogenic) sources, to direct controlled and/or mitigation procedures efficiently, contributions of different sources need to be considered. Occasionally these are explored from a particular region or global environment, depending on a specific area of interest. A fully coupled online meteorology–chemistry model framework (WRF-Chem) is used to investigate atmospheric ACIs over southern Africa –a region characterized by a strong and intense seasonal biomass burning (BB) cycle. The large transport of aerosol plumes originating from the seasonal burning from agriculture, land-use management and various activities give rise to a unique situation warranting special scrutiny. Simulations are conducted for the 2008 dry season BB episode, implementing a chemical dataset from various emission sources (anthropogenic, BB, biogenic, dust and sea salt) with the meteorological conditions. A base line (CNTRL) simulation was conducted with all emission sources from 26 August to 10 September 2008. To probe the contribution of BB on the regional pollution and influence on ACIs, a sensitivity (TEST) simulation was conducted without BB emissions and compared to the base line. The impact of natural and anthropogenic aerosol particles is studied and quantified for the two simulations, focusing on aerosol concentration and cloud responses under different model resolutions. A statistical analysis of pollutant concentration of major regulated species and cloud variables is conducted and the percentage difference used to assess the contribution due to BB emissions. Results confirm the high variability of spatial and temporal patterns of chemical species, with the greatest discrepancies occurring in the tropical forests whereas the subtropics show more urban/industrial related emissions. Whilst CO and O3 show statistically significant increases over a number of cities/towns, the trend and spatial variability is much less uniform with NO2 and PM in most urban and populous cities. Statistical analysis of major chemical pollutants was mainly influenced by BB emissions. O3, NOx, CO and PM increase by 24%, 76%, 51%, 46% and 41% over the main source regions, whereas in the less affected regions concentrations increased by 5%, 5%, 5%, 3% and 2% when BB emissions are included. This study sheds new light on the response of cloud processes to changing aerosol concentrations and different model resolutions. In the parameterised case (dx = 20 km), clouds become more cellular, correlated with high supersaturations, whereas in the resolved case (dx = 4 km), they become more faint with relatively lower supersaturations. Aerosol effects on cloud properties were further studied and statistical analysis conducted on CCN, cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC), supersaturation and aerosol optical depth (AOD) at two different grid spacings. Most clouds occur to the west of the domain coincident with increase in aerosol concentration and AOD, while single scattering albedo (SSA) decreases. A considerable cloud ‘burn-off’ occurs in tropical west Africa, where aerosols can also be lofted up to 500-hPa level when BB emissions are included in the simulation. Due to BB, absorbing aerosol increased by 76% and 23% over tropical west and subtropical southeast, while tropical east shows no change. The study shows that tropical central Africa is characterized by an increased build-up in biomass burning aerosols (BBAs), forming a regional haze with high AOD; this becomes stronger near active burning areas with a significant proportion occurring to the west. AOD enhancement increases up to 38%, 31% and 11% in the west, east and south respectively. Although CDNC increased in areas with high aerosol concentration, supersaturation decreases (in the small domains) since increase in aerosol number concentration decreases maximum supersaturation Smax. Changes in absorbed radiation increased by +56 Wm-2, +23 Wm-2 and +14 Wm-2 in the west, east and southeast. To further evaluate the model sensitivity and its skill, an analysis was conducted by comparing the model performance with measurement data. Simulated AOD, surface concentrations of CO and O3, ozonesondes and liquid water path (LWP) were compared with measured data from MODIS satellite, SAFARI2000 field study and Cape Point WMO. The model shows a good skill in capturing and reproducing the trends as that measured. However, a severe lack of measurement data over southern Africa makes it more difficult to effectively evaluate WRF-Chem over southern Africa. There is a need for increased availability of measurements to adequately compare with models. This study is one of the first WRF-Chem studies conducted over southern Africa to simulate the weather and pollution interaction. The novelty of the present study is the combined analysis of ACI sensitivity to aerosol loading and cloud response in a regime-based approach. The study concludes with a brief discusssion of future directions for work on AQ and modelling interactions between pollution and weather over southern Africa.

A fumaça ambiental de tabaco antes de ser um problema de saúde, o qual se torna quando é inalada, é um problema de engenharia, envolvendo fenômenos de transporte e saneamento ambiental, mecânica de fluidos e qualidade do ar. Este trabalho versou o problema da qualidade do ar de ambientes onde o fumo é permitido. Objetivou compilar uma base científica sobre a questão ventilação e poluição tabagística ambiental para embasar argumentações para o estabelecimento de leis de ambientes interiores livres de fumo. Mostrou-se que a fumaça do tabaco é agente cancerígeno em humanos, não havendo nível seguro de exposição a ela, e que a ventilação não soluciona o problema da exposição, sendo a abordagem eficiente no controle da qualidade do ar de ambientes interiores a proibição do fumo. A revisão das leis e normas brasileiras referentes à qualidade do ar de ambientes interiores onde o fumo é permitido mostrou que elas não estão alinhadas à base científica sobre a questão. Por modelagem física e experimentação em escala reduzida, o sistema de separação de áreas para fumantes e não-fumantes por ventilação proposto pelo projeto Convivência em Harmonia foi analisado, e mostrou-se que tal separação por ventilação não impede a dispersão da fumaça da área para fumantes para a área para não-fumantes. As metodologias de amostragem de ar indicadas para o levantamento de dados de poluição tabagística ambiental para a mobilização para a implementação de leis de ambientes livres de fumo foram avaliadas e algumas questões técnicas foram apontadas, bem como a necessidade da especificação de um instrumento em conformidade com a norma para material particulado da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, que pode ser considerada o processo nacional de amostragem do ar para estudos de poluição tabagística ambiental. / Environmental tobacco smoke, before becoming a health issue, which becomes when it is inhaled, is an engineering issue, involving transport phenomena and environment, fluid mechanics and air quality. This research approached the problem of air quality of places where smoking is allowed. The objective was to compile a scientific basis on the issue ventilation and environmental tobacco smoke to support arguments for the establishment of smoke-free laws. It was shown that tobacco smoke is carcinogenic to humans, with no safe level of exposure, and that ventilation does not solve the problem imposed by exposure, being the efficient approach on the control of indoor air quality the prohibition of smoking. The review of Brazilian laws and norms related to the indoor air quality of places where smoking is allowed showed that they are not aligned to the scientific basis of the issue. By physical modeling and experimentation on reduced-scale, the system of separation of smoking and non-smoking areas by ventilation proposed by the Courtesy of Choice project was analyzed, and it was shown that such separation by ventilation does not prevent the dispersion of smoke from smoking to non-smoking areas. The air sampling methodologies indicated for the collection of environmental tobacco smoke data for mobilizing the implementation of smokefree environments were evaluated and some technical issues were raised, as well as the need to specify an instrument in conformity with the particulate matter norm of the National Health Surveillance Agency, that may be considered the national air sampling process for environmental tobacco smoke studies.

This thesis examines the spatial and temporal variation in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in Guernsey and the impacts on pre-existing asthmatics. Whilst air quality in Guernsey is generally good, the levels of NO2 exceed UK standards in several locations. The evidence indicates that people suffering from asthma have exacerbation of their symptoms if exposed to elevated levels of air pollutants including NO2, although this research has never been carried out in Guernsey before. In addition, exposure assessment of individuals is rarely carried out and research in this area is limited due to the complexity of undertaking such a study, which will include a combination of exposures in the home, the workplace and ambient exposures, which vary depending on the individual daily experience. For the first time in Guernsey, this research has examined NO2 levels in correlation with asthma patient admissions to hospital, assessment of NO2 exposures in typical homes and typical workplaces in Guernsey. The data showed a temporal correlation between NO2 levels and the number of hospital admissions and the trend from 2008-2012 was upwards. Statistical analysis of the data did not show a significant linear correlation due to the small size of the data sets. Exposure assessment of individuals showed a spatial variation in exposures in Guernsey and assessment in indoor environments showed that real-time analysis of NO2 levels needs to be undertaken if indoor micro environments for NO2 are the be assessed adequately. There was temporal and spatial variation in NO2 concentrations measured using diffusion tubes, which provide a monthly mean value, and analysers measuring NO2 concentrations in real time. The research shows that building layout and design are important factors for good air flow and ventilation and the dispersion of NO2 indoors. Environmental Health Officers have statutory responsibilities for ambient air quality, hygiene of buildings and workplace environments and this role needs to be co-ordinated with healthcare professionals to improve health outcomes for asthmatics. The outcome of the thesis was the development of a risk management framework for pre-existing asthmatics at work for use by regulators of workplaces and an information leaflet to assist in improving health outcomes for asthmatics in Guernsey.

Submitted by Luciana Sebin (lusebin@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-28T11:52:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseTTC.pdf: 1953879 bytes, checksum: 40d2700ccba5a25270b8c28ea767e5d0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-10T19:07:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseTTC.pdf: 1953879 bytes, checksum: 40d2700ccba5a25270b8c28ea767e5d0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-10T19:07:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseTTC.pdf: 1953879 bytes, checksum: 40d2700ccba5a25270b8c28ea767e5d0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-10T19:08:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseTTC.pdf: 1953879 bytes, checksum: 40d2700ccba5a25270b8c28ea767e5d0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-26 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Research in the area of indoor air quality (IAQ) has increased in recent decades, but IAQ standards remain scarce in Brazil and are only applicable to air-conditioned environments. Classrooms have attracted particular research attention because high occupancy rates associated with inadequate building maintenance and low ventilation rates contribute to poor air quality, affecting the health of teachers and students. It is therefore necessary to monitor total particulate matter (TPM), the respirable particulate fractions (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in order to avoid adverse impacts. The objective of the present research was to determine the indoor concentrations of these species in two air-conditioned and two naturally ventilated classrooms at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), as well as in the adjacent outdoor atmosphere, providing data for comparison of these locations and evaluation of compliance with existing legislation concerning concentrations in open and closed environments. UFSCar is located on the Washington Luís highway, which carries intense vehicular traffic, and is close to two chemical plants, one producing paints and solvents and the other manufacturing paper and packaging, whose emissions of particulate matter and gases affect local air quality. Additional parameters determined were air temperature, relative humidity, noise, and rates of occupancy and ventilation of rooms. The particulates collected were submitted to chemical characterization using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results showed that in the case of the air-conditioned rooms, levels of noise and CO2 were unsatisfactory, according to the existing regulations, and the same was found for temperature, occupancy rate, and noise in the rooms with natural ventilation. Chemical analysis of the particulates identified 27 elements (Al, Au, Ba, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cu, Fe, Ga, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Pr, Rb, S, Sb, Sn , Sr, Ti, V, Y, Zn, and Zr). Possible origins of these elements included external sources such as vehicle emissions, soil dust resuspension, and sugarcane burning, as well as internal sources such as the chalk (which contains calcium compounds) used by teachers. Measurements of ventilation rates revealed the importance of changes of air in the indoor environment for reducing CO2 concentrations. Overall, it could be concluded that particulate concentrations were higher in the naturally ventilated rooms and that for most of the parameters (in both types of room), levels were higher in the internal environments, compared to the outdoor atmosphere (I/O ratio >1.0). / As pesquisas sobre a qualidade do ar de interiores (QAI) tornaram-se frequentes nas últimas décadas, porém as normas brasileiras para monitoramento de interiores ainda são escassas e exclusivas para ambientes de climatização artificial. Salas de aula ganharam especial atenção dos pesquisadores devido à comprovação de que altas taxas de ocupação associadas à manutenção predial deficitária e baixas taxas de ventilação contribuem significativamente para a má qualidade do ar, afetando a saúde de professores e alunos. Neste contexto, o material particulado total (MPT) e suas frações respiráveis (MP2,5 e MP10), dióxido de carbono (CO2), monóxido de carbono (CO) e compostos orgânicos voláteis (COVs) devem ser monitorados para evitar efeitos deletérios. Assim, o objetivo desta tese foi avaliar as concentrações internas dos parâmetros supracitados em duas salas de aula climatizadas artificialmente e em duas com ventilação natural na Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), bem como em ambiente aberto próximo a elas, fornecendo dados para a comparação entre estes locais e com as legislações específicas para ambientes abertos e fechados. A escolha pela UFSCar considerou sua localização na Rodovia Washington Luís, de intenso tráfego veicular, e sua proximidade com duas indústrias químicas, uma do setor de produção de tintas e solventes e a outra do setor de papel e embalagens, cujas emissões de material particulado e gases podem interferir na qualidade do ar nos arredores. Além dos parâmetros citados, foram avaliados também os níveis de temperatura, umidade relativa do ar, ruídos, as taxas de ocupação e de ventilação das salas em estudo e também foi realizada a caracterização química por Espectrometria de Massa com Plasma Indutivamente Acoplado (ICP-MS) e Espectrometria de Emissão Ótica com Plasma Indutivamente Acoplado (ICPOES) dos particulados coletados. Os resultados apontaram que para as salas climatizadas com ar-condicionado os níveis de ruídos e de CO2 estiveram inadequados segundo as normas pertinentes, o mesmo ocorreu para temperatura, taxa de ocupação e novamente ruídos para as salas com ventilação natural. As análises químicas dos particulados identificaram 27 elementos (Al, Au, Ba, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cu, Fe, Ga, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Pr, Rb, S, Sb, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, Y, Zn, Zr) possivelmente provenientes de fontes externas como emissão veicular, ressuspensão de solo e queima de cana-de-açúcar e de fontes internas como o giz (que contém compostos de cálcio) utilizado pelos professores. Os experimentos de taxa de ventilação indicaram a importância da renovação de ar no ambiente interno para reduzir as concentrações de CO2. De um modo geral, concluiu-se que as concentrações de particulados foram maiores nas salas ventiladas naturalmente e para a maioria dos parâmetros, em ambos os tipos de sala, os níveis internos foram superiores aos externos (índice I/E > 1,0).

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:56:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4257.pdf: 3897166 bytes, checksum: cc33c4ccd6a9b1f8bd0ac127138d5b48 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-29 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / Over the last decades, a great deal of research has been conducted to find out more about indoor air quality (IAQ) problems and likewise there are some studies designed to measure environmental conditions linking health problems and students and teachers performance to poor indoor air quality in classroom settings. Given the overwhelming magnitude of this issue, the purpose of this work was to carry out an environmental monitoring study with a focus on indoor air quality in a public school, Dr. Álvaro Guião, located in the downtown area of São Carlos with high traffic volumes. The following parameters were measured in order to calculate their values: total particulate matter (TPM) and inhalable particles (PM2,5 and PM10), air temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO2), noise. In addition, the chemical characterization of the particulate matter collected by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique was accomplished. With respect to the mean concentrations of CO2, PM2,5 and PM10, the results showed that the applicable regulatory requirements have been met in accordance with the National Regulatory Agency for Sanitary Vigilance (ANVISA) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, respectively, while two different measurements of TPM mean concentrations were significantly higher than the levels recommended by the Brazilian Association of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Ventilation, and Heat (ABRAVA). PM analysis using XRF method was utilized to identify the following elements: Ca, Cu, Fe, K, S, Si, and Ti, from external sources such as vehicle emissions, re-suspension of soil and sugarcane burning, and internal sources as the traditional chalk (which contains calcium compounds) used by the teachers. Both temperature and humidity readings have exceeded several times the levels required by ANVISA, however, a thermal discomfort was observed only in three different days, whereas the noise levels measured during the sample period extrapolated the satisfactory levels recommended by the Brazilian Technical Standards Association (ABNT). All monitored parameters both inside and outside the classrooms exhibited higher indoor levels with I/O ratio (ratio of mean concentrations indoors and outdoors) a few times greater than 1 and measured values between the cross-correlation coefficients showed that most of the parameters were negatively correlated with rainfall, showing that there is a close relationship between high pollution levels and lower rainfall. / As pesquisas sobre a qualidade do ar interno (QAI) tornaram-se frequentes na última década e alguns estudos em ambiente escolar relacionam o surgimento de problemas de saúde e a redução da produtividade de alunos e professores à má qualidade do ar interior de salas de aula. Reconhecida a relevância deste tema, este trabalho objetivou realizar o monitoramento ambiental, focado na qualidade do ar, na Escola Estadual Dr. Álvaro Guião, situada na área central da cidade de São Carlos onde há intenso tráfego urbano e veicular. Foram analisados os níveis dos seguintes parâmetros: material particulado total (MPT) e suas frações respiráveis (MP2,5 e MP10), temperatura, umidade relativa do ar, dióxido de carbono (CO2) e ruídos, e também procedeu-se a caracterização química do material particulado coletado através da técnica de Fluorescência de Raios-X (FRX). Os resultados mostraram que as concentrações médias de CO2, bem como as de MP2,5 e MP10, estavam de acordo com os limites estabelecidos nas normas técnicas da ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária) e da OMS (Organização Mundial da Saúde), respectivamente, enquanto as concentrações médias de MPT extrapolaram em duas datas o valor máximo previsto pela ABRAVA (Associação Brasileira de Refrigeração, Ar Condicionado, Ventilação e Aquecimento). A análise por FRX do MP identificou os seguintes elementos: Ca, Cu, Fe, K, S, Si e Ti, provenientes de fontes externas como emissão veicular, ressuspensão de solo e queima de cana-de-açúcar e de fontes internas como o giz (que contém compostos de cálcio) utilizado pelos professores. Os níveis de temperatura e umidade superaram por diversas vezes os valores preconizados pela ANVISA, entretanto apenas em três datas foi constatado desconforto térmico, enquanto os níveis de ruído extrapolaram em todo período amostrado a faixa considerada adequada pela ABNT (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas). Todos os parâmetros monitorados dentro e fora das salas de aula apresentaram níveis mais elevados no ambiente interno, com índice I/E (razão entre concentrações médias internas e externas) algumas vezes superiores a 1 e o cálculo dos coeficientes de correlação cruzada entre os parâmetros apontou que a maioria deles se associou negativamente com a precipitação pluviométrica, comprovando que altos níveis de poluentes são concomitantes a baixos índices de chuvas.