Air quality in the maracanã and deodoro zones during the rio 2016 olympic games

Abstract

The air quality during the Summer 2016 Olympic Games in two Olympic zones, Maracanã (Tijuca) and Deodoro, was studied. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were collected and analyzed following method TO-15 (United States Environmental Protection Agency), during and in the days after the Games. The total VOC (C4-C12) concentrations were 39.2-160.9 and 36.6-191.4 μ g m-3 for Tijuca and Deodoro, respectively. These concentrations were lower than values previously obtained in Tijuca and other areas of the city. VOC speciation and benzene/toluene ratios were also different as a consequence of the restrictions imposed on vehicular transit during the Olympic Games. Concentrations were discussed considering the reactivity and ozone forming potential of individual compounds. Criteria pollutants, determined by the Tijuca Automatic Monitoring Station, were also analyzed. The preventive policies were successful in decreasing the concentrations of CO and PM10, leading to a decrease in mean ozone levels. However, air quality indexes were not dramatically reduced, because of the increase in NOx emissions and isolated events of higher ozone levels.