Air pollutants and their degradation of a historic building in the largest metropolitan area in Latin America

Abstract

Historic buildings that comprise the cultural heritage of humanity are in need of preservation on a worldwide scale in regard to degradation resultant from atmospheric pollutants. The Brazilian Public Market, located in the historic center of the mega city of Sao Paulo, is the object of this research, due to its representation of historical Brazilian architecture. The general objective of this manuscript is to analyze the influence of air pollutants on the degradation of the historic Sao Paulo Public Market in the city of Sao~ Paulo, Brazil. Methodologically, between May 2018 and April 2019, samples of sedimented dust were collected at five points on the side walls of the market's historic structure, for the analysis of accumulated ultrafine particles (UFPs) and nanoparticles (NPs). A total of 20 samples of particulate matter were collected using self-made passive samplers (SMPSs). Using SMPSs, 12 months of accumulation and deposition were used to sample the atmospheric PM1. The results demonstrate the presence of dangerous elements such as: As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn. Note that EDS coupled with microscopy techniques, points out the risks to human health, due to the presence of these dangerous elements that accumulate in the building's structure. The results show that 85% of the NPs sampled contained Pb, and 56% contained Pb and Ti, which are harmful to both historic buildings and human health. Air pollution enables the further deterioration of the Sao Paulo Public Market, which is in need of restoration.

Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries

“… Neckel et al (2021) demonstrated that the lack of treatment of these gaseous elements leads to the accumulation of contaminants in the localized atmosphere as the natural process of decay proceeds. Silva et al (2020) , Duarte (2021) and Oliveira et al (2021) warn that gases and other contaminants are added to Accumulated Ultrafine Particles (UFPs) and Nanoparticles (NPs) that are easily transported to other regions through wind action, spreading these harmful contaminants far and wide.…”

Geo-environmental parametric 3D models of SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation in hospital ventilation systems

“…The greater precision of the variations that occur in natural ventilation in this study was based on the use of a virtual “grid” with 198 points located at the following three heights above the ground level: 0.5 m, 1.27 m and 2.04 m. Sample points were conducted in triplicate, totaling 594 sample points for calculating and modeling the velocity of internal air flow powered only by natural ventilation, with Cluster analyses in different locations both inside and outside of the room. The choice of the three heights (0.5 m, 1.27 m and 2.04 m) utilized for Independência Hospital was based on the work of Silva et al, 2020 , Oliveira et al, 2021 , who consider the presence of contamination in ultrafine particles suspended in the air. The three specific heights were derived from the human scale – heights at which air would enter the respiratory system of average sized humans ( Shao et al, 2021 ).…”

“…These airborne particles are susceptible to movement from one region to another based on the intensity of wind’s velocity. According to Silva et al, 2020 , Oliveira et al, 2021 air quality studies on a global scale are indispensable. Therefore, our study as well as the work of Carraturo et al (2020) alert that natural ventilation in hospitals dedicated primarily or solely to the care of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, requires proactive design and preventative care, as these are environments that concentrate high amounts of viral particles in the air and allow those particles to settle onto surfaces if air flow velocity is not adequate.…”

“…The dynamics of atmospheric contamination by microorganisms and aggregates in ultrafine particles suspended in the air on a global scale is a frontier theme in geo-environmental studies ( Silva et al, 2020 , Oliveira et al, 2021 , Shao et al, 2021 , Silva et al, 2021 ). Neckel et al (2021) reported that moving air could carry fungi, viruses and bacteria to other regions, thus spreading environmental contamination.…”

“… Neckel et al (2021) reported that moving air could carry fungi, viruses and bacteria to other regions, thus spreading environmental contamination. Monitoring air quality in both indoor and outdoor environments is therefore important in terms of human health ( Silva et al, 2020 , Oliveira et al, 2021 ).…”