EXPOSURE TO PARTICLES AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS, THEIR EFFECTS ON HEALTH - CASE STUDY IN THE PORT OF FIGUEIRA DA FOZ

There is a growing concern with the evaluation of the external environment air due to the strong industrial and urban expansion. It is always desirable that the air is fresh and pleasant, that is, it does not have a negative impact on health. In the case of a port area, they are subject to various pollutants that are harmful to health, even more so if it is an international port. The main objectives were to evaluate the exposure of workers/residents in the surrounding area to outdoor air pollutants, PM₂‚₅, PM₁₀, CO₂ and ultrafine particles. The measurements were carried out in the port of Figueira da Foz We checked whether there was any parameter outside the normal range and which of the points stood out. In this study, UFP levels were compared with other common air quality monitoring parameters. The results indicate that UFP values are high, with point 3 being the most notable. Degraded air quality poses a significant risk to human health, especially for children and the elderly. Although the primary sources of UFP are related, other preventive measures are needed to reduce these particles.