O corredor ecológico norte da mata atlântica em São Paulo - SP e sua influência na qualidade do ar em áreas urbanas

Abstract

The levels of air pollution recently reached, especially in the largest cities, have placed this issue on the agenda of studies and public policies aimed at adapting air quality as a public health factor, which directly influences social development indicators. The municipal administration of São Paulo, in its Atlantic Forest Conservation and Recovery Plan, PMMA-SP, in addition to including the implementation of ecological corridors, has multiple objectives related to the biome's ecosystem services, among which the adaptation to climate change stands out. This adaptation needs to take place both globally and locally. From this perspective, this research brings a study carried out in regions under the influence of the Northern Ecological Corridor, in relation to its capacity for air requalification in neighborhoods in the city of São Paulo, such as Perus, Jaraguá and Pirituba. By surveying the concentrations of Particulate Materials (PM2.5 and PM10), which are potentially toxic to human health, the capacity of green infrastructure to act as a natural filter of air pollution was analyzed, by comparing levels of atmospheric contaminants. Thus, two study areas were delimited, named Polígono Verde (PV) – adjacent to the Northern Ecological Corridor – and Polígono Urbano (PU) – 1 km away from the edge of the forest. The i-Tree program was used to estimate: (i) the amount of pollutants that can be removed by trees, both in PV and PU and (ii) the benefits of the Northern Ecological Corridor, in monetary terms. The results indicated that the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 showed a significant increase from the PV, towards the PU, with an approximate increase of 10 µg.m-3, which is noteworthy, as this is a value used as reference; differences in concentrations above this threshold have been related to the incidence of adverse health effects. The i-Tree simulation also indicated for the PV a removal rate of 11,775 Kg/day.km2 and for the PU of 5,536 Kg/day.km2. This removal indicates for PV a saving of R$ 81,670/year. On the other hand, the economy can reach millions of reais, when considering the expenses avoided with health, due to the reduction of people who have a disease associated with air pollution. The research findings evidenced the role of green infrastructure, especially larger urban forests, in reducing the impacts of air pollution, as well as serving as a consultative tool, contributing to the compliance and/or improvement of control standards and management projects, to the establishment of tolerance limits - for air contaminants - acceptable by official bodies, such as the World Health Organization.