Resumo O Spill, Transport and Fate Model é uma nova ferramenta computacional para modelar derramamentos de petróleo em águas brasileiras, desenvolvido no Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas da Universidade de São Paulo. O STFM foi projetado para auxiliar nas análises de impacto ambiental e na qualidade da água, com finalidade acadêmica e para estudos de licenciamento ambiental. Neste trabalho são apresentadas a formulação do modelo, as avaliações de desempenho e a validação dos resultados. Essas são fases necessárias para que o modelo seja disponibilizado ao público.

Abstract The Spill, Transport and Fate Model (STFM) is a new computational tool for modeling oil spills in Brazilian waters, developed at the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of São Paulo. The STFM was designed to assist in the analysis of environmental impact and water quality, for academic purposes and for environmental licensing studies. This work presents the formulation of the model, performance evaluations and validation of the results. These are necessary phases for the model to be made available to the public.

Resumo As bacias de Campos e Santos são as reservas de petróleo offshore mais importantes do Brasil e possuem potencial para serem os maiores campo de exploração de petróleo offshore nas próximas décadas, principalmente devido ao óleo localizado na camada do pré-sal. Esta região apresenta condições reais para a ocorrência de eventos atmosféricos intensos, somados à alta velocidade dos meandros da corrente marítimas brasileira. No entanto, o risco crescente de acidentes e danos na região tem sido objeto de preocupações e discussões. Os riscos nas bacias de Campos (2011) e Santos (2012) podem não apresentar potencial para eventos desastrosos como nos campos de petróleo no Alasca e no Golfo do México, mas os acidentes nessas áreas não são improváveis, como já evidenciados por acidentes anteriores em condições operacionais semelhantes (por exemplo, acidente na plataforma da Chevron na Bacia de Campos, em 2011). Este artigo mostra a discussão sobre as características multidisciplinares e ambientais substanciais em campos de exploração de petróleo ao longo da costa brasileira, com base na metodologia de Revisão Semi-Sistemática. Os aspectos avaliados abrangem não apenas características geológicas, circulações oceânicas e meteorológicas, mas também se destacando a atual produção de petróleo, os acidentes de derramamento de óleo mais significativos registrados até 2019 e a discussão sobre alguns níveis atuais de contaminação da água do mar.

Abstract The basins of Campos and Santos, the most important offshore oil reserves in Brazil, hold potential for being the largest offshore oil exploration fields in the next decades, mainly due to the oil located in the pre-salt layer. This region presents real conditions for the occurrence of intense atmospheric events added to the high velocity of the meanders of the Brazilian current. However, the increasing risk of accidents and damage in the region has been the subject of concern and discussion. The risks in the basins of Campos (2011) and Santos (2012) may not exhibit the the same potential for disastrous events as do those in the oil fields of Alaska and of the Gulf of Mexico, but accidents in these areas are not unlikely, as already evidenced by previous accidents under similar operating conditions (e.g. Chevron Platform accident in Campos Basin, RJ, Brazil, 2011). This paper highlights discussion of the multidisciplinary and substantial environmental features in oil exploration fields along the Brazilian coast based on Semi-Systematic Review methodology. The aspects evaluated cover not only geological traits, oceanic and meteorological circulation, but also current oil production, the most significant oil spill accidents recorded up to 2019 and the discussion about some current levels of seawater contamination.

Resumo O material particulado fino (MP) e o Black Carbon são dois dos piores poluentes atmosféricos, afetando a saúde humana. Apesar disso, não há dados na literatura sobre estes poluentes no interior de residências no Brasil. Nosso objetivo é analisar as partículas menores que 0,25 μm (MP0,25) e o rBC no interior de residências de idosos na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP), em que a poluição do ar tem sido um problema sério devido às emissões veiculares. Em 60 residências, em cada amostra de 24 h foram medidos a massa e o rBC por análise gravimétrica e refletância, respectivamente. As concentrações em massa do MP0,25 e do rBC foram avaliadas em função das condições meteorológicas e do tráfego. A massa média do MP0,25 e de rBC foram de 13,6 e 2,8 μg/m3, respectivamente. O MP0,25 ultrapassou a recomendação da OMS para MP2,5 em 11,7% das residências, sendo que 26,2% da massa do MP0,25 foi composta por rBC. Considerando que o rBC é um traçador das emissões veiculares e, é prejudicial para a saúde humana, é importante que este poluente seja considerado em termos de ações de políticas públicas de controle para a melhoria da qualidade do ar na RMSP.

Abstract Fine particulate matter (PM) and Black Carbon are two of the worst air pollutants, affecting human health, mainly elderly. Despite this fact, there is no data in literature about these pollutants indoor dwellings in Brazil. This study aims to analyze PM smaller than 0.25 μm (PM0.25) and the Black Carbon (rBC) indoor dwellings of elderly located in the Metropolitan Area of Sao Paulo (RMSP), in which air pollution has been a serious problem due to the vehicular emissions. In 60 indoor dwellings, each PM sample was obtained during 24 hours, being the mass and rBC measured by gravimetric analysis and reflectance, respectively. The mass of PM0,25 and rBC were evaluated in function of the traffic and meteorological conditions; being the average concentrations 13.7 and 2.8 μg/m3, respectively. The PM0.25 exceeded the guideline from the WHO threshold for PM2.5 in 11.7% of households. Around 26% of the PM2.5 consisted in rBC, which was due to their proximity of the intense traffic routes. Considering that the rBC is a tracer of the vehicular emissions and it is harmful to the elderly health, it is important that this pollutant be considered in terms of public control actions for air quality improvement in RMSP.

Atmospheric pollutants can have serious impacts on the preservation of São Paulo's tangible cultural heritage. The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a monitoring campaign focussed on particulate matter (PM) that was conducted in three of the most important museums of the São Paulo megacity (Brazil): the Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia (MAE-USP), the Museu Paulista (MP-USP), and the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo (PE). These museums exhibit indoor PM and black carbon (BC) concentrations consistent with their urban locations and their specific methods for managing the indoor environment.

Este artigo versa sobre a modelagem dos processos de remoção do sulfato no material particulado sulfato e o gás dióxido de enxofre, comparando as condições sinópticas, em diferentes locais de coleta, com o intuito de se verificar a dominância dos processos dentro e abaixo da nuvem na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP). Três locais de amostragens foram escolhidos: GV (Granja Viana) na periferia da RMSP, IAG-USP e no Mackenzie (RMSP centro). Baseando-se nas condições sinópticas, foram escolhidos grupos de eventos onde a modelagem numérica foi simulada, usando um modelo simples de remoção. Estas condições foram geralmente de nuvens convectivas, sendo as mais comuns na RMSP. Os resultados mostram que os processos dentro da (intra-)nuvem foram dominantes (80%) para a remoção de sulfato/dióxido de enxofre. Os processos de remoção abaixo da nuvem indicaram cerca de 20% deste total. Eventos claramente convectivos, com precipitação total maior que 20 mm, são mais eficientemente modelados que os eventos mais estratiformes, com um coeficiente de correlação de 0,92. Há também uma clara associação entre eventos de maior precipitação e a razão entre modelado e observado, com coeficiente de correlação de 0,63. Adicionalmente, como seria de esperar a respeito da distância às fontes de poluição, o local de amostragem GV apresentou de modo geral menores concentrações de sulfato na água de chuva, tanto modelado como observado, do que a região central, no Mackenzie, onde a caracterização dos eventos explica parcialmente as diferenças entre as concentrações em água de chuva.

This article deals with the scavenging processes modeling of the particulate sulfate and the gas sulfur dioxide, emphasizing the synoptic conditions at different sampling sites in order to verify the domination of the in-cloud or below-cloud scavenging processes in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (RMSP). Three sampling sites were chosen: GV (Granja Viana) at RMSP surroundings, IAG-USP and Mackenzie (RMSP center). Basing on synoptic conditions, it was chosen a group of events where the numerical modeling, a simple scavenging model, was used. These synoptic conditions were usually convective cloud storms, which are usual at RMSP. The results show that the in-cloud processes were dominant (80%) for sulfate/sulfur dioxide scavenging processes, with below-cloud process indicating around 20% of the total. Clearly convective events, with total rainfall higher than 20 mm, are better modeled than the stratiform events, with correlation coefficient of 0.92. There is also a clear association with events presenting higher rainfall amount and the ratio between modeled and observed data set with correlation coefficient of 0.63. Additionally, the suburb sampling site, GV, as expected due to the pollution source distance, presents in general smaller amount of rainwater sulfate (modeled and observed) than the center sampling site, Mackenzie, where the characterization event explains partially the rainfall concentration differences.

Determinações de H2O2, íons majoritários e parâmetros meteorológicos foram realizados em eventos de chuva no centro de São Paulo entre julho de 2001 e janeiro de 2006. As concentrações de H2O2 variaram entre 0,5 e 78 μmol L-1, sendo a média de 14,5 μmol L-1. As concentrações médias de SO4(2-) e HCOO- foram 13,5 e 9,62 μmol L-1, respectivamente. Observou-se uma correlação significativa de H2O2 com íon HCOO- (r = 0,70, n = 129, p < 0,0001) indicando que a oxidação de formaldeído por radicais OH• pode ser uma rota de formação de H2O2 nas águas de chuva de São Paulo. A estimativa da deposição úmida de H2O2 mostra que aproximadamente 70% da deposição úmida anual de H2O2 ocorre na primavera e verão. A ocorrência de relâmpagos, assim como a intensidade da chuva, foi importante no controle da concentração de H2O2 na fase líquida da atmosfera.

Measurements of H2O2, major ions and meteorological parameters were made in rain events occurred in downtown Sao Paulo City, Brazil between July 2001 and January 2006. The H2O2 concentration ranged from 0.5 to 78 μmol L-1 with an average of 14.5 μmol L-1. The SO4(2-) and HCOO- concentrations mean were of 13.5 and 9.62 μmol L-1, respectively. The H2O2 concentrations showed a positive and significant correlation with HCOO- (r = 0.70, n = 129, p < 0.0001) suggesting that the production of H2O2 in aqueous phase by consumption of formaldehyde by reaction with OH• radical is a factor which may control the H2O2 levels in the rainwater samples. Estimation of rate of wet deposition of H2O2 shows that nearly 70% of hydrogen peroxide is annually removed from the atmosphere by wet deposition in spring and summer. Sequential rainstorm analyses indicated that lightning activity and rainfall rate can influence the H2O2 contents in rainwater in this area.

Rainfall samples collected in the downtown area of São Paulo city, during 2003, exhibited average concentrations of cadmium, lead and copper of 1.33, 8.52 and 49.5 nmol L-1, respectively. Among the major ions, NH4+ was the predominant species followed by NO3-, SO4(2-) and Ca2+, with volume weighed mean (VWM) concentrations of 37.1, 20.1, 11.9 and 10.8 µmol L-1, respectively. All the determined species showed high inter-events variability, including free H+ ions whose VWM concentration was 4.03 µmol L-1, corresponding to a pH value of 5.39.

The supply of drinking water in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo City has been a great and serious challenge in the latest years. This work demonstrates the viability of the evaluation of the degree of contamination of the water reservoirs using analytical procedures, which allow the analysis of several compounds at relatively low cost: stripping square wave voltammetry (SSWV) and capillary zone electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection (CZE-CCD). The results of ionic composition indicated significant contamination of the Guarapiranga water system by human activities on the reservoir banks. In fact, the Guavirutuba and Itupu streams presented high concentrations of phosphate and ammonium ions. This can be directly related to misuse and unruled occupation of the soil and precarious sanitary infrastructure.

The chemical composition of rainwater samples collected from March 2002 to February 2003 in downtown São Paulo city (Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie) is presented. Potentiometric and conductimetric measurements were used to evaluate the [H+] and the total ionic content. Major anions and cations were determined by ion chromatography with conductivity detection. The rainwater was acidic with a mean pH of 4.99. The volume weighted means, VWM, of the anions nitrate, acetate and sulfate were, respectively, 21.2, 16.9 and 12.4 µmol L-1. Ammonium was the most abundant ion with a VWM of 37.6 µmol L-1. The contribution of each anion to the free acidity potential decreases in the following order: SO4(2-) (28.8%), CH3COO- (24.7%), NO3- (22.8%), Cl- (13.4%), HCOO- (7.7%) and C2O4(2-) (2.5%). The relative contribution of the weak organic acids to the free acidity was significant, 34.9%.

Rainwater samples were analyzed during a one-year period (June 1999 - June 2000) and presented concentration of pH = 4.9 (volume weight mean). The ions concentrations results showed a high sulfate concentration (35 µmol L-1), followed by the cations concentration of sodium, calcium and ammonium (35, 16 and 30 µmol L-1, respectively). Due to the great contribution of these cations in the sulfate neutralization action, the rainwater of this region had only a light acid characteristic. The soil characteristic was acid and the bioavailable concentration of the alkaline cations (Ca, Mg and K) presented high calcium concentrations (1001 ± 357 mg kg-1) compared with the other cations. The determination of soil sensitivity to acid rain was calculated by the ratio BC/Al3+ (BC = Ca2+ + Mg2+ + K+) and presented the average value of 5.1 ± 3.3. This preliminary evaluation of soil susceptibility by the ratio BC/Al3+ showed that the local soil and vegetation type (tropical Savannah) were sensitive to acid deposition. The long term of this impacting condition (acid rain, high sulfate deposition) could be harmful to the soil and vegetation quality.

The strong reducing action of L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) are of fundamental interest in biochemical and related process. The oxidation of ascorbic acid by molecular oxygen and others oxidants are of fundamental importance, involving the intervention of transition metal ions as catalysts and the formation transition metal complexes of ascorbic acid as intermediates. The present article is intended to cover some aspects of the reactions of ascorbic acid and related compounds involving some transition metal ions.