International Journal of Environmental Science and Development

Abstract—This research focused on analyzing the behavior of the hourly average concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in relation to vehicular traffic, as well as the effect of relative humidity on these concentrations. Measurements of hourly particulate matter concentrations were recorded by the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru (SENAMHI) at five surface air quality stations. The profiles of PM₁₀ concentrations are related to traffic behavior, showing high levels of concentrations at peak hours, while the PM_2.5 profiles are flatter and better related to traffic in February (summer). The decrease in relative humidity between 80 to 65% in the mornings has a greater effect on the increase in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations in February than in July (winter), and the increase in relative humidity between 65 to 80 % in the afternoon, it has a greater effect on the decrease in the concentration of PM_2.5 in February than in July. The air quality in the north (PPD and CRB stations) and east (SJL station) of the Metropolitan Area of Lima (MAL) are the most polluted. The factors that relate PM₁₀ concentrations with the Peruvian standard in February at these stations were 2.79, 1.78 and 1.26, and in July 2.74, 1.28 and 1.36 respectively. The highest and lowest variability of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in February and July occurred in the northern area (PPD and SMP stations).

Index Terms—Air quality, air pollution, particulate matter, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, Lima, Peru.

Warren Reátegui-Romero and Walter F. Zaldivar-Alvarez are with the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Textile (FIQT), National University of Engineering (UNI), Peru (e-mail: wreategui@uni.edu.pe, walterzaldivar@hotmail.com).
Sergio Pacsi-Valdivia is with the National Agrarian University La Molina (UNALM), Lima, Peru (e-mail: spv@lamolina.edu.pe).
Odón R. Sánchez-Ccoyllo is with the National Technological University of South Lima (UNTELS), Lima, Peru (e-mail: osanchez@untels.edu.pe).
Alberto E. García Rivero is with the School of Geography, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Perú (e-mail: albertoenrique.garcia@unmsm.edu.pe).
Aldo Moya–Alvarez is with the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP), Calle Badajoz 169 Urb. Mayorazgo, Peru (e-mail: amoya@igp.com.pe).

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Cite: Warren Reátegui-Romero, Walter F. Zaldivar-Alvarez , Sergio Pacsi–Valdivia, Odón R. Sánchez-Ccoyllo, Alberto E. García-Rivero, and Aldo Moya–Alvarez, "Behavior of the Average Concentrations As Well As Their PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 Variability in the Metropolitan Area of Lima, Peru: Case Study February and July 2016," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development vol. 12, no. 7, pp. 204-213, 2021.

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