Evaluation of total suspended particles (TSP) and respirable particles (PM10) in the zone of Guayabal, Medellín, Colombia, 2000

Abstract

In this work total suspended particles (TSP) and breathable particles matter (PM10) were determined, in Guayabal sector-Medellín (Colombia), over 5 months in the year 2000. The TSP daily average concentration was 113 µg/m3 , being lower than the daily norm value for Colombia (400 µg/m3). Nevertheless, the concentrations tended to be higher than annual norm of 100 µg/m3 . The PM10 daily concentrations, with an average of 74 µg/m3, were never higher than daily norm of 150 µg/m3, established by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (US EPA). But they tend to be higher than annual norm (50 µ/m3). It was possible to obtain 101 TSP and PM10 data couples daily, which permitted to make a correlation little explored in Colombia, with results of R2 = 0,91. This permits an important economy in future studies, because, by measuring TSP it is possible to estimate with high reliability the PM10 value. The PM10/ TSP ratio showed an average of 0,62, indicating an important participation of Breathable Particles Matter with respect to Total Suspended Particles.

Keywords

• Contaminación atmosférica
• partículas suspendidas totales (PST)
• partículas respirables (PM10)
• calidad del aire en Medellín, Colombia