Concentración de las partículas totales suspendidas en la atmósfera de Caracas

The aim of the present work was to study the spatial and temporal distribution of the total atmospheric suspended particles (TSP) in the city of Caracas (Los Ruices, Bello Campo, Cementerio, La Yaguara, La Trinidad and El Silencio). The TSP has been collected by using a high volume sampler and glass fiber filter, collected each six days during 24 hours, as has been established by Venezuelan regulations. The concentration of TSP was calculated by dividing the weight of particles deposited on the filter and the volume of air sampled. This information has been processed to obtain its distribution (geometric average) monthly, annually and for the entire period. The value of TSP concentration for each station during the first six months of the year is higher, especially during March and April. The average TSP concentrations for the El Silencio, El Cementerio, La Yaguara, La Trinidad and Los Ruices stations were 97, 57, 88, 46 y 63 mg/m3, respectively for the 1981-1991 period and during 1992-2006 were 71 mg/m3 for El Silencio, 48 mg/m3 for Los Ruices, 45 mg/m3 for Bello Campo and 43 mg/m3 for El Cementerio. These results show that the concentration values of TSP were higher during the 1981-1992 period in comparison with 1992-2006, but El Silencio and La Yaguara were the only stations to exceed TSP value of 75 mg/m3 during 1981-1991.