Simulation of air pollution from mobile source emissions in the city of Rio de Janeiro

A simple trajectory model and the chemical mechanism, including the chemistry of ethanol and methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE), were used to simulate ozone concentrations at Avenida Brasil, a busy expressway in the city of Rio de Janeiro where emissions from mobile sources are considered to be the major source of air pollution. The calculated ozone maximum of 22.4 ppb at 14:57 h is in good agreement with experimental measurements. Ozone isopleth diagrams were calculated based on the meteorological and emission scenario of that expressway, showing that ozone concentrations in Rio de Janeiro are a consequence of the high levels of NOx.