Black carbon (BC) is an organic residue formed primarily from biomass burning (e.g., wildfires) and fossil fuel combustion. Until recently, it was understood that BC was highly recalcitrant and stabilized in soils over millennial scales. However, a fraction of the material can be solubilized and transported in fluvial systems as dissolved BC (DBC), which represents on average 10% of the global export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from rivers to coastal systems. The composition of DBC controls its reactivity, and it has been linked with a variety of in-stream processes that induce both carbon sequestration and evasion of CO₂ from aquatic systems, which suggest DBC may have a significant contribution within the global carbon cycle. The primary objectives for the thesis were to elucidate environmental factors that control the fate and transport of DBC in fluvial systems. Ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry was used to characterize DBC on a molecular scale whereas benzenepolycarboxylic acids were used to quantify and characterize BC in both dissolved and particulate phases (PBC). Sinks for polycondensed DBC were linked to a series of in-stream biogeochemical processes (e.g., photodegradation, metal interactions); whereas photooxidation of particulate charcoal led to production of DBC, suggesting photodissolution as a previously unrecognized source of DBC to fluvial systems. Coupling of DBC with PBC, however, was hydrologically constrained with sources varying over temporal scales and land use regimes. For DBC in particular, an enrichment of heteroatomic functionality was observed as a function of anthropogenic land use. Furthermore, land use coupled with stream order (a proxy for in-stream processing as defined by the River Continuum Concept) could explain significant spatial variability in organic matter (e.g., DOC) composition within an anthropogenically impacted system. With an increase in wildfire frequency projected with on-going climate change trends, parallel projections for increases in BC production are also expected. Furthermore, conversion of natural landscapes for urban and agricultural practices is also expected to continue in the coming decades. Thus, it is imperative to reach a comprehensive understanding of processes regulating the transport of DBC in fluvial systems with efforts to constrain future BC budgets and climate change models.

The research presented in this doctoral dissertation aimed to improve knowledge on methods to evaluate exposures to carbon-containing nanomaterials and to develop optimized respiratory filters properties to protect workers from these exposures while minimizing discomfort due to breathing resistance. In the initial study, a novel laboratory-based system generated aerosols of four carbon-containing powders (carbon black, a small-diameter (< 8 nm) multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), a large-diameter (50-80 nm) MWCNT, and a nickel-coated MWCNT) to evaluate the effectiveness of NIOSH Method 5040 for measuring masses as low as 1 μg. A targeted mass of a powder ranging from 1 to 30 μg was deposited on filters for gravimetric and elemental carbon (EC) analysis. The gravimetric mass was compared to the EC mass, and a regression model developed for each powder type. Additionally, the limit of detection (LOD) of the NIOSH Method 5040 for each powder type was determined. The regression models had significant slopes relative to zero for all powder types with all but carbon black demonstrating a statistical difference between the two methods. The LOD of NIOSH Method 5040 ranged from 4.5 for small-diameter MWCNTs to 31.8 μg for nickel-coated MWCNTs. Assuming a sample flow rate of 4.2 L/min and an 8-hour sample duration, the concentration-based LOD for NIOSH Method 5040 ranged from 2.2 μg/m3 for small-diameter MWCNTs to 15.8 μg/m3 for nickel-coated MWCNTs. These results indicate the analysis of EC is affected by the structure and elemental content of the CNTs. Additionally, based on the LOD determined for each powder type, the method may not be sufficient to assess exposures at and below the recommended exposure limit accurately without sampling durations longer than 8 hours. A second study used a laboratory-based system to evaluate an aethalometer response to carbon-containing nanomaterials including carbon black and MWCNTs. Concentrations ranging from 1 to 20 μg/m3 were generated to evaluate the device at concentrations expected in occupational settings. The concentration of the aerosol was measured by an aethalometer alongside a sample collected for EC analysis using NIOSH Method 5040. Additionally, NIOSH Method 7300 was used to determine the concentration of nickel during trials with a nickel-coated MWCNT to determine if the method along with the aethalometer can be used to assess metal-coated MWCNTs. A regression model was developed for each powder type, and the slopes for each were significant relative to zero. The LOD of the aethalometer ranged from 0.56 μg/m3 for nickel-coated MWCNTs to 7.2 μg/m3 for small-diameter MWCNTs. These results indicate the response of the aethalometer may be affected by particle structure and elemental content. NIOSH Method 5040 performed better than the aethalometer for all powder types except the nickel-coated MWCNT. Additionally, based on the LOD determined for each powder, an aethalometer may not be able to assess low-level exposures. In the third study, a mathematical model was used to predict the particle penetration and pressure drop of respirator filters with varying filter thickness, fiber diameter, solidity, and electrostatic charge. Particle penetration was determined experimentally for two different commercially available respirator filters against a sodium chloride aerosol using a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). Optimized filter designs were developed using the model to minimize the pressure drop by adjusting the filter depth, fiber diameter, and solidity of the filter. The model and experimental data were used to maintain a 5% maximum penetration against nanoparticle exposures while minimizing breathing resistance. Model results indicated electrostatic charging played a significant role in improving collection efficiency of respirator filters while not increasing the breathing resistance of the filter. Filter thickness and solidity also played a key role in minimizing breathing resistance. Pressure drop decreased with decreasing solidity, however, the filter depth increased to maintain the collection efficiency of the filter. This increase in filter depth introduced a decision point of determining the practical implications of increased filter thickness on the end user. Filter depth increases dramatically as the solidity decreases below 0.20. The breathing resistance that corresponds to this design is heavily dependent on the face velocity and electrostatic charge of the filter. The electrostatic charge should be maximized during filter production as this was the dominant collection method for nanoparticle aerosols.

Environmental applications of pyrogenic carbon, aka black carbon (BC), have been hampered due to the poor characterization and quantification of environmental BC. This dissertation was dedicated to the better characterization of environmental char/charcoal BC (char-BC), the most heterogeneous and the less identifiable group in the BC continuum. The analytical approach developed for char-BC was further incorporated with other BC methods in environmental samples for a comprehensive assessment of combustion-derived carbon inputs in different environmental systems. The present study firstly evaluated the feasibility of using levoglucosan, a marker derived from cellulose/hemocellulose combustion, to characterize and quantify char-BC in the environment. Levoglucosan was found exclusively in BC materials derived from biomass combustion albeit in highly variable yields across different char-BC. A further examination of synthetic chars showed that temperature is the most influential factor affecting levoglucosan yield in char. Notably, levoglucosan was only detectable in low temperature char samples (150-350 degrees C), regardless of plant species. These results demonstrated that levoglucosan could serve as a good qualitative indicator for the presence of char produced under low temperature conditions in soil, sediments, and aerosols. Results of lignin analysis on the synthetic chars further reveal that combustion can greatly decrease the yield of the eight major lignin phenols with no lignin phenols detected in any synthetic char produced at greater than or equal to 400 degrees C. The values of all lignin parameters show significant shifts with increasing combustion severity (temperature and/or duration), indicating that thermal alteration is an important abiotic lignin degradation process. Hence the input of char-BC in the environments represents a terrestrial organic matter source with highly altered lignin signatures. Finally, a multi-proxy approach, including elemental (soot-BC) and molecular (levoglucosan, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and lignin oxidation products) proxies, was adopted to investigate the centennial-scale temporal distribution of combustion products in four sediment cores from Puget Sound basins, WA. The observed temporal trends of soot-BC and combustion PAHs fluxes reflect the evolution of energy consumption and the positive effects of environmental regulations. The distinct temporal patterns of soot and PAHs among cores demonstrate that urbanization is a crucial factor controlling the inputs of combustion byproducts to the environment. On the other hand, the trends of levoglucosan may be more relevant to the climate oscillation and thus show a regional distribution pattern. Our results demonstrate that environmental loading of combustion byproducts is a complex function of urbanization and land use, fuel usage, combustion technology, environmental policies, and climate changes.

The modeling results of current global aerosol models agree, generally within a factor of two, with the measured surface concentrations of black carbon (BC) and sulphate (SF) aerosols in rural areas across the northern continents. However, few models are able to capture the observed seasonal cycle of the Arctic aerosols. In general, the observed seasonality of the Arctic aerosols is determined by complex processes, including transport, emissions and removal processes. In this work, the representations of aerosol deposition processes (i.e., dry deposition, in-cloud and below-cloud scavenging) within the framework of the Canadian Global Air Quality Model – GEM-AQ are first enhanced. Through the enhancements in GEM-AQ, the seasonality of the Arctic BC and SF is reproduced, and the improvement in model performance extends to the rest of the globe as well. Then, the importance of these deposition processes in governing the Arctic BC and SF seasonality is investigated. It is found that the observed seasonality of the Arctic BC and SF is mainly caused by the seasonal changes in aerosol wet scavenging, as well as the seasonal injection of aerosols from surrounding source regions. Being able to reproduce the seasonality of the Arctic BC, the enhanced GEM-AQ allows more accurate assessment of the contributions of anthropogenic sources to the BC abundance in the Arctic air and deposition to the Arctic surface. Simulating results on regional contributions to the Arctic BC show a strong dependence on altitude. The results reinforce the previous finding of Eurasia being the dominant contributor to the surface BC in the Arctic, and suggest a significant contribution from Asian Russia. In addition to the seasonality of the Arctic aerosols, the inter-annual variation in the Arctic BC surface concentration is also investigated. To complement the 3-D GEM-AQ model, the atmospheric backward trajectory analysis, together with estimated BC emissions, is implemented as a computational effective approach to reconstruct BC surface concentrations observed at the Canadian high Arctic station, Alert. Strong correlations are found between the reconstructed and the measured BC in the cold season at Alert between 1990 and 2005, which implies that atmospheric transport and emissions are the major contributors to the observed inter-annual variations and trends in BC. The regional contributions estimated annually from 1990 through 2005 suggest that Eurasia is the major contributor in winter and spring to the near-surface BC level at Alert with a 16-year average contribution of over 85% (specifically 94% in winter and 70% in spring). A decreasing trend in the Eurasian contribution to the Arctic is found in this study, which is mainly due to regional emission reduction. However, the inter-annual variation in the North American contribution shows no clear trend.

Aerosol emissions from diesel combustion and other activities in rail yards can affect the health of urban populations. Fine particulate (PM[subscript 2.5]) concentrations near the Inman and Tilford rail yards in Atlanta, Georgia, are the highest measured in the state. The rail yard complex is surrounded by homes, schools, businesses and other industries. The impact of the aerosol emissions from these rail yards on local concentrations of PM[subscript 2.5] was quantified. Specifically, black carbon and PM[subscript 2.5] fuel-based emission factors from the rail yards were estimated by carbon balance using high time-resolution monitoring, a BC and PM[subscript 2.5] emissions inventory was estimated and dispersion modeling was applied to assess the impact of the rail yard activities on local air quality and the cost and benefits of upgrading locomotive engines with cleaner technologies was assessed. Further, baseline information that will allow a later evaluation of the improvement of local air quality as locomotives operating in the rail yards are upgraded was generated, and a composition profile of the rail yard aerosols was developed using chemical speciation techniques. These results found that activities from locomotives in the Inman and Tilford Rail yards lead to and an average emission factor of 6.0 ± 0.5 g of PM[subscript 2.5] per gallon of fuel and are responsible for increases in annual average concentrations of approximately 1.3 µg/m³ of PM[subscript 2.5] as far as 1 km from the perimeter of the rail yard complex. Approximately 11.7 tons of BC and 26 tons of PM[subscript 2.5] per year were emitted from the rail yards in 2011. The rail yards were found to be important sources of hydrocarbon-like organic aerosols (HOA) and black carbon from fuel (BCf). Upgrading the engines at the rail yards would decrease PM[subscript 2.5] emissions by about 9 t/year, reducing PM[subscript 2.5] concentrations around 0.5±0.1 µg/m³ as far as 1 km from the perimeter of the rail yard complex and producing monetized health benefits of approximately 24 million dollars per year.

The modeling results of current global aerosol models agree, generally within a factor of two, with the measured surface concentrations of black carbon (BC) and sulphate (SF) aerosols in rural areas across the northern continents. However, few models are able to capture the observed seasonal cycle of the Arctic aerosols. In general, the observed seasonality of the Arctic aerosols is determined by complex processes, including transport, emissions and removal processes. In this work, the representations of aerosol deposition processes (i.e., dry deposition, in-cloud and below-cloud scavenging) within the framework of the Canadian Global Air Quality Model – GEM-AQ are first enhanced. Through the enhancements in GEM-AQ, the seasonality of the Arctic BC and SF is reproduced, and the improvement in model performance extends to the rest of the globe as well. Then, the importance of these deposition processes in governing the Arctic BC and SF seasonality is investigated. It is found that the observed seasonality of the Arctic BC and SF is mainly caused by the seasonal changes in aerosol wet scavenging, as well as the seasonal injection of aerosols from surrounding source regions. Being able to reproduce the seasonality of the Arctic BC, the enhanced GEM-AQ allows more accurate assessment of the contributions of anthropogenic sources to the BC abundance in the Arctic air and deposition to the Arctic surface. Simulating results on regional contributions to the Arctic BC show a strong dependence on altitude. The results reinforce the previous finding of Eurasia being the dominant contributor to the surface BC in the Arctic, and suggest a significant contribution from Asian Russia. In addition to the seasonality of the Arctic aerosols, the inter-annual variation in the Arctic BC surface concentration is also investigated. To complement the 3-D GEM-AQ model, the atmospheric backward trajectory analysis, together with estimated BC emissions, is implemented as a computational effective approach to reconstruct BC surface concentrations observed at the Canadian high Arctic station, Alert. Strong correlations are found between the reconstructed and the measured BC in the cold season at Alert between 1990 and 2005, which implies that atmospheric transport and emissions are the major contributors to the observed inter-annual variations and trends in BC. The regional contributions estimated annually from 1990 through 2005 suggest that Eurasia is the major contributor in winter and spring to the near-surface BC level at Alert with a 16-year average contribution of over 85% (specifically 94% in winter and 70% in spring). A decreasing trend in the Eurasian contribution to the Arctic is found in this study, which is mainly due to regional emission reduction. However, the inter-annual variation in the North American contribution shows no clear trend.

In regions with low energy access kerosene lamps are commonly used, and these emit carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as household air pollutants (HAP). This bachelor thesis examines the possible reduction of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq) emissions and HAP from kerosene lamps by replacing them with off-grid solar powered lanterns. Life cycle assessment, or LCA, is used as a method to assess CO2eq emissions from the solar lanterns. Data on emissions from the different stages in the solar lantern lifecycle, as well as for the kerosene lamps, is gathered through literature studies. Furthermore, possible improvements of health and social aspects as result of replacing kerosene lamps are studied and discussed. The results show that CO2eq emissions could be significantly lower if solar lanterns were used. During a lifetime of 30 years, a simple kerosene lamp emits a total of 15 500 kg CO2eq, a hurricane lantern 7 900 kg CO2eq, whereas a solar lantern emits 66.1 kg CO2eq. However, it is found that the possible harmful effects of HAP are much larger than those of CO2. Finally, possibilities and challenges regarding implementation and usage of off-grid solar powered lanterns are identified and discussed.

[pt] As pesquisas sobre carbono negro (BC) vêm ganhando grande importância nos últimos anos, não somente devido a sua capacidade de atuar como traçador histórico de processos de combustão em uma determinada região, mas também devido a sua capacidade de sorver contaminantes hidrofóbicos de ambientes aquosos. Buscou-se estudar a geocronologia de dois subprodutos provenientes de processos de combustão (BC e HPAs - hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos), que podem ter origem tanto de queima de biomassa quanto de combustíveis fósseis em um testemunho sedimentar coletado da região noroeste da Baía de Guanabara. Foram avaliadas suas possíveis relações, entre si e com o teor de carbono orgânico presente no sedimento. Avaliaram-se também as possíveis fontes dos HPAs presentes nas amostras, traçando um histórico de queima da região, caracterizada por um acentuado trafego veicular e poluição crônica por diversos compostos. O testemunho foi seccionados em intervalos de 2 cm, onde foram utilizados os segmentos entre 0-72 cm somando totalizando 30 amostras. A metodologia analítica utilizada para a determinação do BC foi a CTO-375, baseada na retirada da matéria orgânica (não-BC) por combustão na presença de oxigênio em excesso, restando somente a fração mais refratária composta pelo BC. Embora a variação percentual de BC tenha apresentado uma média de 0,36 (+-) 0,08 % p.s. ao longo do testemunho, foi observado que o mesmo compõe uma fração significativa do carbono orgânico total (TOC) desta região chegando a representar até 18% p.s. do TOC. A razão C/N possibilitou mostrar que grande parte de matéria orgânica presente neste local é proveniente de origem marinha. O método utilizado para a determinação da concentração dos HPAs foi o EPA 3540C, baseado na extração dos analitos da matriz, a purificação dos extratos através da remoção de interferentes. Através das razões diagnósticas e da análise de componentes principais (PCA) foi possível traçar uma transição das principais fontes de HPAs neste ambiente, mostrando a predominância de HPAs pirogênicos nas amostras mais antigas, para uma maior contaminação petrogênica nas amostras mais recentes. Ainda foi possível comprovar a afinidade de HPAs pirogênicos à presença de BC. Análises de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (SEM) contribuíram para uma maior compreensão das características morfológicas do sedimento, mostrando este ser rico em material amorfo e diatomáceas cêntricas. Esta análise também possibilitou a identificação visual da partícula de BC, porém, a falta de um pré-tratamento nas amostras dificultou o seu reconhecimento. Foram realizadas análises de ressonância magnética nuclear (CP/MAS (13)C NMR) visando possibilidades futuras de determinação de BC por esta técnica. As análises de NMR mostraram que o elevado teor de carbono aromático presente na amostra ambiental, relacionado principalmente a presença de lignina, interfere no sinal de NMR para a determinação de BC, sendo necessária a sua oxidação. Análises de CP/MAS-NQS (13)C NMR possibilitaram a separação das frações de BC, mostrando um teor acentuado de carbonos não-substituídos, sugerindo maior aporte de BC proveniente de queima ao longo do testemunho. Na amostra mais superficial, percebeu-se maior presença de carbonos quaternários, indicando o aumento no aporte de BC oriundo de combustão de combustíveis fósseis. / [en] Researches about black carbon (BC) have been gaining importance in recent years, not only because of its ability to act as a tracer of historical combustion processes in a given region, but also for its ability to adsorb hydrophobic contaminants in aqueous environments. In a sediment core collected from the northwestern region of Guanabara Bay, was attempted to study the geochronology of two combustion sub-products processes (BC and PAHs - polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), which may originate both biomass burning and fossil fuels. Was evaluated their possible relationships between themselves and with the content of organic carbon in the sediment. Also was evaluated the possible PAHs sources in the samples, tracing a burning history in the region, characterized by a marked vehicular traffic pollution and chronic individual compounds. The core was sectioned at intervals of 2 cm, which were used from 0 to 72 cm segments, in a total of 30 samples. The BC analytical determination methodology was the CTO-375, based on organic matter (non-BC) removal by combustion in presence of excess oxygen, leaving only a fraction composed by most refractory BC. Although the BC percentage had an average of 0.36 (+-) 0.08% dry weight over the core, was observed that is a significant fraction of total organic carbon (TOC) in this place representing up to 18% d.w. of TOC. The C/N ratio permitted evaluate that much of organic matter on this site comes from sea sources. The method used for determining the concentration of PAHs was the EPA 3540C, based on the analytes extraction from the matrix, and the extracts purification through the interferences removal. Through diagnostic reasons and principal component analysis (PCA), were possible to evaluate a PAHs transition of the main sources in this environment, showing the PAHs predominance in older pirogenics samples to an increase of petrogenic contamination in the most recent samples. It was also possible to relate an affinity of PAHs pyrogens in the BC presence. Analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) contributed to a better understanding about the sediment morphological characteristics, showing to be rich in amorphous material and centric diatoms. This analysis also allowed the visual identification of the BC particles, however, the lack of a pre-treatment in the samples made it difficult to recognize. Nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS (13)C NMR) analysis were performed in order to future possibilities of BC determination by this technique. The NMR analysis showed that the high aromatic carbon content in the environment sample, is mainly related to the presence of lignin interferes with the signal of NMR for the determination of BC, which requires its oxidation. Analysis of CP/MAS-NQS (13)C NMR allowed the separation of fractions of BC, showing a strong level of carbon non-replaced, suggesting a greater contribution of BC from burning during the core. In the most superficial sample, it was observed the large presence of quaternary carbons, indicating an increase in the input of BC come from combustion of fossil fuels.

Submitted by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2017-08-01T13:44:17Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Reprodução Não Autorizada.pdf: 47716 bytes, checksum: 0353d988c60b584cfc9978721c498a11 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2017-08-01T13:44:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Reprodução Não Autorizada.pdf: 47716 bytes, checksum: 0353d988c60b584cfc9978721c498a11 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2017-08-01T13:45:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Reprodução Não Autorizada.pdf: 47716 bytes, checksum: 0353d988c60b584cfc9978721c498a11 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-01T13:45:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Reprodução Não Autorizada.pdf: 47716 bytes, checksum: 0353d988c60b584cfc9978721c498a11 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-31 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its constituents (black carbon – BC, metals etc) affect human health leading to several diseases. Children and adolescents are one of the major risk group for exposure to such pollutants, with increased exposure indoors such as in classroom. As a result, the mass concentration of PM2.5, BC and elementar composition was evaluated in the rainy and dry seasons in 2016, inside a classroom and outside a kindergarten and high school (Escola Estadual Isaías Vasconcelos – EEIV) at downtown of Iranduba city. Belonging to the metropolitan region of Manaus, the Iranduba city is characterized by the presence of emission sources by burning process, surch as the oleics industries. The highest mass concentration was indoor PM2,5 (13.8 μg m-3) in the dry season. The lowest mass concentration was outdoor PM2,5 in the rainy season (4.7 μg m-3). The indoor PM2,5 values demonstrated the accumulation these particles inside the classroom, with the occurrence of a value above an international norm. The BC concentration also presented the highest values in the indoor and in the dry season. However, the largest contribution of mass (10.21%) from BC to PM2,5 was to outdoor in the dry season. The highest correlation between the outdoor PM2,5 and the outdoor BC confirms the dependence between them and the influence of burning process in the region. The concentration of Fe, TI, Se, S and Ca was statistically the same between the seasons. This behavior demonstrates the presence of continuous sources for these elements. A moderate correlation (0.56) between the Se and S was obtained for the outdoor during the dry season, indicating common burning sources (fossil fuels, household waste etc). The K was below D.L. in the rainy season but it obtained high correlation with the Mg in the dry season, evidencing the influence of biomass burning in the region during this season. Thus, the study corroborate the assumption that Iranduba city is influenced by burning process and the values of indoor concentrations show that the inefficiency of ventilation in the classroom can harm the health of students with continuous exposure. / O material particulado fino (MP2,5) e seus constituintes (Black Carbon – BC, metais etc) afetam a saúde humana acarretando em diversas doenças. As crianças e adolescentes são um dos principais grupos de risco à exposição a esse poluentes, com a maior exposição ocorrendo em ambientes internos como nas salas de aula. Em virtude disso, a concentração em massa do MP2,5, do BC e da composição elementar foi avaliada, nas estações chuvosa e seca em 2016, no interior (int) de uma sala de aula e em um ponto externo (ext) de uma escola de educação infantil e médio (Escola Estadual Isaías Vasconcelos – EEIV) do centro de Iranduba. Pertencente à região metropolitana de Manaus, Iranduba é caracterizada pela presença de fontes de emissão por processos de queima, como as indústrias oleicas. A massa do MP2,5_int na seca foi a que obteve a maior concentração (13,8 μg m-3). A menor concentração foi para o MP2,5_ext no período chuvoso (4,7 μg m-3). Os valores do MP2,5_int demonstra o acúmulo dessas partículas no interior da sala de aula, com a ocorrência de um valor acima de uma norma internacional. A concentração do BC também apresentou os maiores valores no ambiente interno e na seca. Entretanto, a maior contribuição em massa (10,2%) do BC para o MP2,5 foi para o ponto externo na seca. A alta correlação entre o MP2,5_ext e o BC_ext, confirma a dependência entre eles e a influência dos processos de queima na região. A concentração de Fe, Ti, Se, S e Ca, para os dois pontos, foram estatisticamente iguais entre as estações. Este comportamento demonstra a presença de fontes contínuas para esses elementos. Uma correlação moderada (0,56), entre o Se e S, foi obtida para o ponto externo durante a seca, indicando fontes comuns de queima (combustíveis fósseis, lixos domésticos etc). O K esteve abaixo do L.D. no período chuvoso mas obteve alta correlação com o Mg na seca, evidenciando a influência da queima de biomassa na região durante esta estação. Dessa forma, o estudo corrobora o pressuposto de Iranduba ser influenciada por processos de queima e, os valores de concentração interna mostram que a ineficiência da ventilação da sala de aula, poderá prejudicar a saúde dos alunos com a exposição continuada.

The topic of this dissertation is the assessment of the black carbon in the soil. The soil samples were collected in the Brdy area. Relics of charcoal kilns from the 17th - 18th centuries occur there in some places. A part and parcel of this paper is the literature search of the black carbon in the soil, of the history of burning charcoal and of the general characterization of the site where the terrain measurements were in progress. The measuring specification is a part of this paper, too. The results showed changes of physical and chemical characteristics between original forest soils and soils enriched by the black carbon. These soils in the beech forest showed approximately pH 4,7, while soils in the spruce forest showed pH 3,7 on the average. Original soils in the beech forest were more acid by 1 pH unit, and the original soils in the spruce forest were by 0,3 pH more acid. The bulk density of the original soils was 1,28 g/cm3 on the average, and the soils enriched by black carbon decreased to 0,68 g/cm3 on the average. Key words: coal kiln, Brdy, Black carbon, Elementary soil area