Influence of Meteorology on Fine Particles Concentration in an Urban Center in Southeast of Brazil

The negative impacts of particulate matter (PM), mainly the fractions of particles with a diameter <10 μm (PM10), and particles with a diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) on human health are well documented on technical literature. As PM concentrations can build up in periods of limited dispersion, understanding how meteorological conditions influence air pollution levels could help cities plan better air quality control and health policies. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of weather conditions on the concentration (daily mean) of fine particulate matter in Belo Horizonte, Betim, and Contagem, located in Brazil's Southeast region, using data from six meteorological stations between January 2015 and December 2017. Non-parametric methods were used to check statistically significant differences between the dry season (April to September) and wet season (October to March) and to correlate particulate concentration with meteorological parameters (precipitation, temperature, humidity, and wind speed). The results showed that PM concentration in the dry season was significantly higher than in the wet season, with p-values <0.05 for all data groups. Significant correlations were found between PM concentration and most of the assessed parameters. The data also shows a non-adequacy to linear regression, which indicates a possible non-linear or codependent relationship between PM concentration and meteorological parameters. Further studies with multiple variable analyses could help develop adequate models for PM concentration prediction.