Brito, Joel, Carbone, Samara, A Monteiro Dos Santos, Djacinto et al. (4 more authors) (2018) Disentangling vehicular emission impact on urban air pollution using ethanol as a tracer. Scientific Reports. 10679. ISSN 2045-2322
Abstract
The Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area is a unique case worldwide due to the extensive use of biofuel, particularly ethanol, by its large fleet of nearly 8 million cars. Based on source apportionment analysis of Organic Aerosols in downtown Sao Paulo, and using ethanol as tracer of passenger vehicles, we have identified primary emissions from light-duty-vehicles (LDV) and heavy-duty-vehicles (HDV), as well as secondary process component. Each of those factors mirror a relevant primary source or secondary process in this densely occupied area. Using those factors as predictors in a multiple linear regression analysis of a wide range of pollutants, we have quantified the role of primary LDV or HDV emissions, as well as atmospheric secondary processes, on air quality degradation. Results show a significant contribution of HDV emissions, despite contributing only about 5% of vehicles number in the region. The latter is responsible, for example, of 40% and 47% of benzene and black carbon atmospheric concentration, respectively. This work describes an innovative use of biofuel as a tracer of passenger vehicle emissions, allowing to better understand the role of vehicular sources on air quality degradation in one of most populated megacities worldwide.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2018 |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Chemistry (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 07 Feb 2019 15:40 |
Last Modified: | 03 Mar 2025 00:05 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-29138-7 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1038/s41598-018-29138-7 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:142339 |