Overview
Unlike other nations, Brazil’s National air quality standards are only to be used when local air quality standards are not in effect. However, local standards are similar in structure to those established by the National Environment Council (Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente or CONAMA), and the National Standards also set the methodology for testing air quality.
Standard type
Ambient air quality standards
Regulating Body
National Environment Council (CONAMA)
Applicability
Nationwide
Categories
History
Ambient air quality policies are created by the National Environment Council (Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente or CONAMA), the core agency of Brazil’s National Environment System (SISNAMA). Passed in August 1990, federal CONAMA Resolution No. 005/89 established a National Air Quality Program (PRONAR). The passing of Federal CONAMA Resolution No. 003/90 established air quality standards, sampling methods, and quality levels.
National air quality limits are only to be used in absence of local ambient air quality standards. Within CONAMA Resolution 003/90, primary standards mark the limit of concentrations at which human health would be impacted. Secondary standards are concentrations, which if not exceeded, cause the minimum adverse impact on human health, flora and fauna, materials, and the general environment. Primary standards are applicable until states designate Air Quality Classes within their territory.
Technical Standards
Brazil maintains standards for the following pollutants: Total Suspended Particles (TSP); Smoke; Inhalable Particles; Sulfur Dixiode (SO2); Carbon Monoxide (CO); Ozone (O3); and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).
| Pollutant | Limit (µg/m3) | Sampling time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary † | Secondary ‡ | ||
| TSP | 80 | 60 | Annual geometric mean |
| 240* | 150* | 24 hr | |
| Smoke | 60 | 40 | Annual geometric mean |
| 150* | 100* | 24 hr | |
| Inhalable Particles | 50 | Annual arithmetic mean | |
| 150* | 24 hr | ||
| SO2 | 80 | 40 | Annual arithmetic mean |
| 365* | 100* | 24 hr | |
| CO | 10,000 (9 ppm)* | 8 hr | |
| 40,000 (35 ppm)* | 1 hr | ||
| O3 | 160* | 1 hr | |
| NO2 | 100 | Annual arithmetic mean | |
| 320 | 190 | 1 hr | |
| *Not to be exceeded more than once per year †Primary standards mark the limit of concentrations at which human health would be impacted. ‡Secondary standards are concentrations, which if not exceeded, cause the minimum adverse impact on human health, flora and fauna, materials, and the general environment. |
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Links
Regulatory Documents
National Air Program, Resolution No. 005/89
Air Quality Standards, Resolution No. 003/90
