Particulate suspended matters and cases of respiratory diseases in Rio de Janeiro city (Brazil)

This paper investigates the existence of a possible relationship between suspended particulate matters levels and cases of respiratory diseases from a random and systematic sample of medical and air pollution records in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. Records of emergency cases of the year 1991 (months of January, June and July) were collected at Miguel Couto Hospitals and suspended particulate matter (1980-1995) at FEEMA (Rio de Janeiro Environmental Agency). The results revealed that the diseases of the respiratory system of those patients who seek the hospital's emergency care are more frequent during the wintertime. Their number increases markedly during winter months of June and July when compared with the summer's (January) number of cases. The analysis of the historical series (1980-1995) of atmospheric pollution measured at Bonsucesso monitoring station showed that the monthly figures (measured by the number of times that the value exceed the national standard, maximum daily concentration of 240 mug m(-3)), are higher in wintertime (June, July and August). During this same period the level of pollution by atmospheric particulate matter in Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area measured by the annual geometric averages showed results well above the national standard (80 mg m(-3)). This unfavorable situation, together with the fast growing number of new cars circulating in the city and the absence of a clear air pollution control and management plan, may contribute to an increase of the incidence and seriousness of respiratory diseases during subsequent winter months.