Fine Particulate Matter Levels in the Western Area of the City of Rio de Janeiro and the Potential Risks on Children's Health

Abstract

The main goal of this study is to evaluate the potential risk of high levels of particulate matter with diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5) on children´s health, using PM2.5 monitoring in the western zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro and health data determined in the same area. Results showed that, during this period, in more than 50% of days PM2.5 concentration were > 15 µg m− 3. This value is the maximum concentration to ensure a good air quality according to the WHO guidelines and the Brazilian legislation. Furthermore, in 2023, 28.24% and 5.29% of mortality rates, for children between 1 and 5 years old, were due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases respectively. On the basis of the particulate matter levels recorded in this study and the WHO AIRQ + software, we estimate that PM2.5 levels may have contributed to approximately 8.5% of the total number of these deaths and could have been prevented.