To estimate the impact of aldehyde emissions at an airport on the air quality, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde concentrations were measured in the idle and taxiway areas of the Santos-Dumont national airport in Rio de Janeiro. The airport is located about 1 km from downtown Rio de Janeiro and had an average of 70,000 landings and take-offs during 2007. A total of 129 samples were collected in the period from March to November 2007. Formaldehyde concentrations ranged from 2.6 to 10.3 µg m-3, and acetaldehyde concentrations ranged from 4.3 to 19.7 µg m-3. During the morning, A/F ratios (acetaldehyde/formaldehyde ratios, in mass units) were in the range 0.7-1.0. In the afternoon, formaldehyde concentrations were lower and acetaldehyde concentrations generally increased. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde concentrations were in the same range than values previously published for downtown and may not affect ozone production in a local scale.
aircraft engine emissions; aldehydes; airport air quality
