During the period from July 2002 to June 2004, the chemical characteristics of the rainwater samples collected in downtown São Paulo were investigated. The analysis of 224 wet-only precipitation samples included pH and electrical conductivity, as well as major ions (Na+, NH4 +, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, NO3 −, SO4 2− ) and carboxylic acids (acetic, formic and oxalic) using ion chromatography. The volume weighted mean, VWM, of the anions NO3 −,SO4 2− and Cl− was, respectively, 20.3, 12.1 and 10.7 μmol 1−1. Rainwater in São Paulo was acidic, with 55% of the samples exhibiting a pH below 5.6. The VWMof the free H+ was 6.27 μmol 1−1), corresponding to a pH of 5.20. Ammonia (NH3), determined as NH4 + (VWM=32.8 μmol 1−1), was the main acidity neutralizing agent. Considering that the H+ ion is the only counter ion produced from the non-seasalt fraction of the dissociated anions, the contribution of each anion to the free acidity potential has the following profile: SO 4 2− (31.1%), NO 3 − (26.0%), CH3COO− (22.0%), Cl− (13.7%), HCOO− (5.4%) and C 2 O 4 2− (1.8%). The precipitation chemistry showed seasonal differences, with higher concentrations of ammonium and calcium during autumn and winter (dry period). The marine contribution was not significant, while the direct vehicular emission showed to be relevant in the ionic composition of precipitation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Baez, A. P., Belmont, R. D., & Padilla, H. G. (1996). Chemical composition of precipitation at two sampling sites in Mexico: A 7-year study. Atmospheric Environment, 31, 915-925.
CETESB (2005). Relatório de Qualidade do Ar no Estado de São Paulo - 2004, Secretaria do Meio Ambiente, Série Relatórios, ISSN 0103-4103, São Paulo ( http://www.cetesb.sp.gov.br).
de Mello, W. Z. (2001). Precipitation chemistry in the coast of the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Environmental Pollution, 114, 235-242.
Fornaro, A., & Gutz, I. G. R. (2003). Wet deposition and related atmospheric chemistry in the São Paulo metropolis, Brazil: Part 2. Contribution of formic and acetic acids. Atmospheric Environment, 37, 117-128.
Forti, M. C. Moreira-Nordemann, L. M., Andrade, M. F., & Orsini, C. Q. (1990). Elements in the precipitation of S. Paulo city (Brazil). Atmospheric Environment, 24, 355-360.
Harris, D. C. (1998). Qauntitative chemical analysis (p. 899). New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
Hontoria, C., Saa, A., Almorox, J., Cuadra, L., Sánchez, A., & Gascó, J. M. (2003). The chemical composition of precipitation in Madrid. Water, Air Soil Pollution, 146, 35-54.
Kawamura, K., Steinberg, S., & Kaplan, I. R. (1996). Concentrations of monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acids in southern California wet precipitations: Comparison of urban and nonurban samples and compositional changes during scavenging. Atmospheric Environment, 30, 1035-1052.
Kulshrestha, U. C., Sarkar, A. K., Srivastava, S. S., & e Parashar, D. C. (1995). Wet-only and bulk deposition studies at New Delhi (India). Water Air Soil Pollution, 85, 2137-2142.
Leal, T. F. M., Fontenele, A. P. G., Pedrotti, J. J., & Fornaro, A. (2004). Composição iônica majoritária de águas de chuva na região central de São Paulo. Química Nova, 27(6), 855-861.
Lee, B. K., Hong, S. H., & Lee, D. S. (2000). Chemical composition of precipitation and wet deposition of major ions on the Korean peninsula. Atmospheric Environment, 34,563-575.
Martins, M. H. R. B., Anazia, R., Guardani, M. L. G., Laçava, C. I. V., Romano, J., & Silva, S. R. (2004). Evolution of air quality in the São Paulo metropolitan área and its relation with public policies. International Journal Environment and Pollution, 22(4), 430-440.
Munoz, R. A. A., Richter, E. M., Jesus, D. P., Lago, C. L., & Angnes, L. (2004). Determination of inorganic ions in ethanol fuel by capillary electrophoresis. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 15(4), 523-526.
Paiva, R. P., Pires, M. A. F., Munita, C. S., Andrade, M. F., Gonçalves, F. L. T., & Massambani, O. (1997). A preliminary study of the anthropogenic contribution to São Paulo rainfall. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 6, 508-513.
Ynoue, R. Y., & Andrade, M. F. (2004). Size-resolved mass balance of aerosol particles over the São Paulo Metropolitan Area of Brazil. Aerosol Science and Technology, 38(S2), 1-12.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer Science + Business Media B.V
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Santos, M.A.d., Illanes, C.F., Fornaro, A., Pedrotti, J.J. (2007). Acid Rain in Downtown São Paulo City, Brazil. In: Brimblecombe, P., Hara, H., Houle, D., Novak, M. (eds) Acid Rain - Deposition to Recovery. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5885-1_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5885-1_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-5884-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-5885-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)