CONCENTRAÇÃO DE MATERIAL PARTICULADO SUSPENSO NA ATMOSFERA EM SÃO CARLOS - SP

Between 1997 and 2000, annual sampling campaigns of the atmospheric particulate matter (PM) were accomplished in the city of Sao Carlos ‐ SP. The first utilized portable high volume samplers for measuring total PM concentration (TSP), and the others utilized a fixed high volume sampler, equipped with an inertial separator for aerodynamic diameter cut of 10mm (PM 10 concentration). The present work relates these campaigns, focusing mainly on the PM 10 concentration measured in a location of great circulation of people and vehicles. It was noticed that, in the period investigated, the PM concentration was strongly dependent on the seasonal meteorological conditions, being lower in the summer, which is the time of the year with higher precipitation index, and larger in the winter, that is the driest period. The quality of the air in the period satisfied the limits established by the Brazilian legislation concerning PM 10 .