amazon in perspective: integrated science for a sustainable future estimated levels of exposure to...

Amazon in Perspective:

Integrated Science for a Sustainable Future

ESTIMATED LEVELS OF EXPOSURE TO PM2.5 IN THE BRAZILIAN LEGAL AMAZON REGION AND

INDICATORS OF HUMAN HEALTH

Manaus, 2008Manaus, 2008

PROJETO MILÊNIO/LBA CNPQ/FAPEMAT - 2006

Eliane Ignotti – UNEMAT e ISC/UFMT

Karla Longo - CPTEC/INPE

Saulo Freitas - CPTEC/INPE

Paulo Artaxo Netto - IFUSPJoaquim Gonçalves Valente – ENSP/FIOCRUZ e IMS/UERJSandra de Souza Hacon – ENSP/FIOCRUZ

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

In the Amazon region the forest burning occurs during the

dry season, typically between July and October.

Most of the burning occurs around the edge of the forest.

“Arco do desmatamento” - Maranhão / Acre.

Pyrocumulus CloudsPyrocumulus Clouds

Alta Floresta Aerosol Mass Concentration 1992-2000

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Mas

s co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

µg/m

³)

Coarse Mode

Fine Mode

Dry season (400- 600 μg/m³)Dry season (400- 600 μg/m³)

The air quality for small towns can be The air quality for small towns can be much worse during the dry season much worse during the dry season compared to polluted mega-cities in compared to polluted mega-cities in South AmericaSouth America


The concentrations of particulate matter (PMThe concentrations of particulate matter (PM1010 and and

PMPM2.52.5) are important environmental indicators of ) are important environmental indicators of

regional air pollution. regional air pollution.

Fine particles (PMFine particles (PM2.52.5) persist longer in the atmosphere. ) persist longer in the atmosphere.

Their rate of sedimentation is slower, causing theseTheir rate of sedimentation is slower, causing these

finer particles to be transported over longer distances finer particles to be transported over longer distances

(Adreae et al 2001). (Adreae et al 2001).


PMPM2.52.5 may be a better indicator for health effects than may be a better indicator for health effects thanPMPM1010 but as still significantly less monitoring data area but as still significantly less monitoring data area available. available.

Setting up permanent air quality monitoring sites in the Setting up permanent air quality monitoring sites in the entire Brazilian Amazon region and vicinity would be entire Brazilian Amazon region and vicinity would be prohibitively expensive, and presents immense logistic andprohibitively expensive, and presents immense logistic andoperational difficulties operational difficulties


Burning frequently occurs not only in forest areas but also inBurning frequently occurs not only in forest areas but also in

the course of clearing huge areas of grass-land, savanna the course of clearing huge areas of grass-land, savanna

fields, as well as prior to the sugar-cane harvest.fields, as well as prior to the sugar-cane harvest.

Sugar - Cane Tangará da Serra/ MT65% manual harvest 91.850,18 ha burned (2006/2007)


The particulate matter concentrations in the Amazon region The particulate matter concentrations in the Amazon region suggest the need of a new methodological approach of suggest the need of a new methodological approach of environment indicators capable of detecting spatial and environment indicators capable of detecting spatial and temporal variations of exposure levels. temporal variations of exposure levels.

This region encompasses an area of about 4-5 million km2 This region encompasses an area of about 4-5 million km2 with an estimated population of 24 million inhabitants,with an estimated population of 24 million inhabitants,distributed among more than 805 municipalities which makedistributed among more than 805 municipalities which makeup a total of 107 micro regions.up a total of 107 micro regions.

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between critical hours To analyze the association between critical hours percentagepercentage of PMof PM2.52.5 as an indicator of exposure to as an indicator of exposure to

atmospheric pollution, and the rate of hospital atmospheric pollution, and the rate of hospital admissions for respiratory diseases (RD) in the admissions for respiratory diseases (RD) in the

Amazonian micro regions during 2004 and 2005.Amazonian micro regions during 2004 and 2005.

METHODMETHOD

This ecological study uses an environmental exposureThis ecological study uses an environmental exposure

indicator known as indicator known as critical hours percentage critical hours percentage (CH%) of (CH%) of

PMPM2.52.5. .

The following outcome variables were considered: The following outcome variables were considered:

rates of hospitalization due to respiratory disease in childrenrates of hospitalization due to respiratory disease in children

(< 5), the elderly (> = 65) and other age groups (5 – 65), (< 5), the elderly (> = 65) and other age groups (5 – 65),

as well as rates of hospitalization for birth (15 – 45).as well as rates of hospitalization for birth (15 – 45).

METHODMETHOD

The environmental exposure indicator was derived from theresults of CATT-BRAMS Model (Coupled aerosol and trace gases transport model to the Brazilian developments of the developments of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling SystemRegional Atmospheric Modeling System))

Longo et al., 2007 ; Freitas et al., 2007

The limiting value for PM2.5 violations was set to 80µg/m3..

METHODMETHOD

For this study the value chosen was that used by theFor this study the value chosen was that used by the

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, USAOregon Department of Environmental Quality, USA

<{http://www.deq.state.or.us}>, which defined air quality<{http://www.deq.state.or.us}>, which defined air quality

indices for biomass burning emissions.indices for biomass burning emissions.

Even using the Oregon experience, we are applying in different Even using the Oregon experience, we are applying in different

conditions. conditions.

The level of 80 - 175 mg/mThe level of 80 - 175 mg/m33 (Oregon) refers to right measure. In this (Oregon) refers to right measure. In this

case it is from model produced each 3 hs, and represent a spatial case it is from model produced each 3 hs, and represent a spatial

average equivalent to cells of the model (48x48 kmaverage equivalent to cells of the model (48x48 km22).).

http://www.deq.state.or.us

METHODMETHOD - - EXPOSUREEXPOSURE

The indicator (% of CH) is the number of observations in which the value defined as the cut-point was violated divided by the total number of observations during the year in question.

The hour during which the violation occurred is called a "critical hour" and the number of critical hours is expressed as a percentage of the total number of hours of the period studied.

(www.cptec.inpe.gob.br)

METHOD - METHOD - OUTCOMEOUTCOME

Respiratory diseases are directly related to air pollution;

It is the most evident effects in human health – children and elderly are vulnerable age groups;

The rates of hospitalization by birth - was chosen for comparison with the association found between RD and CH%.

(www.datasus.gov.br)

METHODMETHOD

The control variables were chosen to be:

- average number of blood tests (per 100 inhabitants) and - HDI (Human Development Indicator) -PNUD

- meteorological data as humidity, temperature, and wind direction are included at the model of exposure indicator.

RESULTSRESULTS

Nível de exposição em “percentual de horas críticas” (%CH) para PM2,5 definido em 80 µg/m3 e coeficiente de variação entre os

municípios inseridos nas microrregiões. Amazônia Legal, 2004 – 2005.

RESULTSRESULTS

Indicator of exposure CH% for PM2,5 defined in 80 µg/m3, rates of hospitalization by RD by groups of age and by birth, average number of blood tests per 100 inhabitants, and HDI. Measurement and their correlations coefficients.

RESULTSRESULTS

Children Elderly

Rate of hospitalization by RD by groups of age, and by birth per terciles of indicator of exposure “critical hour’s percentage” (CH%) for PM2,5 defined in 80 µg/m3 . Legal Amazon, 2004 and 2005.

5 – 65 years of age

Rate of hospitalization by RD by groups of age, and by birth per terciles of indicator of exposure “critical hour’s percentage” (CH%) for PM2,5 defined in 80 µg/m3 . Legal Amazon, 2004 and 2005.

RESULTSRESULTS

Female pop 15 – 45 years of age

RESULTSRESULTS ANOVA of rates of hospitalization by respiratory diseases for groups of age, rates of hospitalization by delivery per terciles of indicator of exposure CH% for PM2.5 defined in 80 µg/m3

Multiple regression of rates of hospitalization by RD by groups of age, by birth and the predicts variables: %CH for PM2,5 in 80 µg/m3, Human Development Indices (HDI) , average number of blood count.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

The percentage of critical hours of PMThe percentage of critical hours of PM2.52.5 indicator of indicator of

atmospheric pollution in the Legal Amazon region atmospheric pollution in the Legal Amazon region

showed an association with the occurrence of RD, showed an association with the occurrence of RD,

especially in the more vulnerable groups.especially in the more vulnerable groups.

This is an indirect and aggregated indicator that reflects This is an indirect and aggregated indicator that reflects

differences in exposure to atmospheric pollutants differences in exposure to atmospheric pollutants

and, therefore, opens up new approaches to the and, therefore, opens up new approaches to the

effects of forest burning on human health.effects of forest burning on human health.

% CH of PM 2.5 limit of violation in 25 µg/m3 - 2005

Challenges...

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amazon in perspective: integrated science for a sustainable future estimated levels of exposure to...

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