Air pollution has become a major problem in urban areas due to increasing industrialization and urbanization. In this study ambient concentrations of PM1 and metal concentrations as well as source contributions were identified and quantified by using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) in receptor modeling in the Metropolitan Area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The PM1 samples were collected on PTFE filters from December 2012 to December 2014 in two sampling sites. Major ion and trace element concentrations were assessed. The average concentrations were 12.8 and 15.2 µg/m3 for Canoas and Sapucaia do Sul sites, respectively. Major ion contributions of PM1 were secondary pollutants such as sulfate and nitrate. Trace elements, especially Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Ni also made important contributions which are directly associated with anthropogenic contributions. Our results show significantly higher l...

The ceramics industry, resulting from developments of modern compounds, is a segment of great influence in worldwide sustainability. Artisanal ceramic factories based on wood combustion have significant risks for the creation and discharge of atmosphere nanoparticles (NPs) and ultra-fine particles (UFPs). At present, there is insufficient recognition on the influence of engineered-NPs on the atmosphere and health. Real improvements are indispensable to diminish contact with NPs. The present study demonstrates the main NPs and UFPS present in an area of intense artisanal wood-combustion ceramic manufacturing. Particulate matter was sampled for morphological, chemical, and geochemical studies by sophisticated electron microbeam microscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. From NPs configuration (<10 nm) we identify nucleation. Several amorphous NPs (>10 nm) were produced around t...