Air pollution has become a critical issue in urban areas, so a broad understanding of its spatiotemporal characteristics is important to develop public policies. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal variation of atmospheric particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and ozone (O3) in Barranquilla, Colombia from March 2018 to June 2019 in three monitoring stations. The average concentrations observed for the Móvil, Policía, and Tres Avemarías stations, respectively, for PM10: 46.4, 51.4, and 39.7 µg/m3; for PM2.5: 16.1, 18.1, and 15.1 µg/m3 and for O3: 35.0, 26.6, and 33.6 µg/m3. The results indicated spatial and temporal variations between the stations and the pollutants evaluated. The highest PM concentrations were observed in the southern part of the city, while for ozone, higher concentrations were observed in the north. These variations are mainly associated with the influence of lo...

This study evaluates the on use of crushed rocks (remineralizers) to increase soil fertility levels and which contributed to increase agricultural productivity, recovery of degraded areas, decontamination of water, and carbon sequestration. The use of these geological materials is part of the assumptions of rock technology and, indirectly, facilitates the achievement of sustainable development goals related to soil management, climate change, and the preservation of water resources. Research over the past 50 years on silicate rocks focused on soil fertility management and agricultural productivity. More recently, the combined use with microorganisms and organic correctives have shown positive results to mitigate soil degradation; to expand carbon sequestration and storage; and to contribute to the adsorption of contaminants from water and soil. In this article we show results obtained in...

Deterioration of air quality due to the increase in atmospheric emissions from biomass burning (BB) is one of the major environmental problems worldwide. In this study, we estimated the contributions of BB to PM2.5 concentrations in the municipalities of Soledad and Malambo located in the Colombian Caribbean. The evaluation period ranged from February 24 to March 30, 2018, a period with a high number of BB events recorded in the surroundings of the evaluated sites. The contribution of BB to the two sampling sites was estimated using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) dispersion model with forwarding trajectories from each of the burning points identified by satellite images (n = 1089). The PM2.5 emissions were determined using the fire radiative power (FRP), obtained by remote-sensing data, and corresponded to the radiant energy released per time unit b...

Adsorption is a unit operation widely used for the tertiary treatment of the most diverse effluents, whose mechanism is based on removing recalcitrant compounds from the organic and inorganic origin. In this process, choosing a suitable adsorbent is a fundamental point. This review article focuses on the adsorbents with natural geological origin: minerals, clays, geopolymers, and even wastes resulted from mining activity. Therefore, over 450 articles and research papers were explored. These materials' main sources are described, and their characteristics, composition, and intrinsic properties are related to adsorption. Herein, we discuss the effects of several process parameters, such as pH, temperature, pollutant, and adsorbent concentration. Furthermore, equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamic aspects are also addressed, and relevant regeneration prospects and final disposal. Finally,...

Black carbon (BC) is one of the short-lived air pollutants that contributes significantly to aerosol radiative forcing and global climate change. It is emitted by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels, and biomass. Urban environments are quite complex and thus, the use of mobile jointly with fixed monitoring provides a better understanding of the dynamics of BC distribution in such areas. The present study addresses the measurement of BC concentration using real-time mobile and ambient monitoring in Barranquilla, an industrialized urban area of the Colombian Caribbean. A microaethalometer (MA200) and an aethalometer (AE33) were used for measuring the BC concentration. The absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) values were determined for the study area, for identifying the BC emission sources. The results of the ambient sampling show that vehicle traffic emissions prevail; how...

Nanoscience and technology have enabled better insights into the environmental and health impacts arising from the mining, production and use of fossil and mineral fuels. Here we provide an overview of the nanoscience-based applications and discoveries concerning coal and mineral fuel (i.e., uranium-containing minerals) mining, refining/production, use, and disposal of wastes. These processes result in massive nanoparticle release and secondary nanoparticle generation which have highly significant environmental implications and human health consequences on local, regional, and even global levels. Until recently, very little was known about nanoparticle fractions. Recent advancements and sophistications enable us to detect, collect and study these materials which are roughly 1 nm (0.001 µm) up to several tens of nanometers in size. These materials are known to behave differently (chemica...

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...

Having a better understanding of air pollutants in railway systems is crucial to ensure a clean public transport. This study measured, for the first time in Brazil, nanoparticles (NPs) and black carbon (BC) on two ground-level platforms and inside trains of the Metropolitan Area of Porto Alegre (MAPA). An intense sampling campaign during thirteen consecutive months was carried out and the chemical composition of NPs was examined by advanced microscopy techniques. The results showed that highest concentrations of the pollutants occur in colder seasons and influenced by variables such as frequency of the trains and passenger densities. Also, internal and external sources of pollution at the stations were identified. The predominance of NPs enriched with metals that increase oxidative stress like Cd, Fe, Pb, Cr, Zn, Ni, V, Hg, Sn, and Ba both on the platforms and inside trains, including Fe...

COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) is a severe respiratory syndrome currently causing a human global pandemic. The original virus, along with newer variants, is highly transmissible. Aerosols are a multiphase system consisting of the atmosphere with suspended solid and liquid particles, which can carry toxic and harmful substances; especially the liquid components. The degree to which aerosols can carry the virus and cause COVID-19 disease is of significant research importance. In this study, we have discussed aerosol transmission as the pathway of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2), and the aerosol pollution reduction as a consequence of the COVID-19 lockdown. The aerosol transmission routes of the SARS-CoV-2 can be further subdivided into proximal human-exhaled aerosol transmission and potentially more distal ambient aerosol transmission. The human-exhaled a...

Adsorption is a unit operation widely used for the tertiary treatment of the most diverse effluents, whose mechanism is based on removing recalcitrant compounds from the organic and inorganic origin. In this process, choosing a suitable adsorbent is a fundamental point. This review article focuses on the adsorbents with natural geological origin: minerals, clays, geopolymers, and even wastes resulted from mining activity. Therefore, over 450 articles and research papers were explored. These materials' main sources are described, and their characteristics, composition, and intrinsic properties are related to adsorption. Herein, we discuss the effects of several process parameters, such as pH, temperature, pollutant, and adsorbent concentration. Furthermore, equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamic aspects are also addressed, and relevant regeneration prospects and final disposal. Finally,...