Evaluation of the Dry Deposition of Particles Emitted by Biomass Combustion

Abstract

The dry deposition flux of particles smaller than 2.5 µm was investigated considering agricultural and urban regions. The concentrations, size distributions, and chemical characterization of particulate matter (PM) were evaluated and related to emission sources. The concentrations of fine PM were associated to the highest number of wildfire outbreaks. The results of the PM samples combined with the analyses of the air mass trajectories evidenced that the transport of this pollutant may have come from regions with industries that use biomass as fuel. The predominant water-soluble ions in coarse and fine particulate were nitrate, potassium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfate, and nitrate, respectively. The deposition fluxes of potassium, nitrate, and sulfate ions were higher during the sugarcane harvest than during the off-season.