Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
Pontifical Catholic
University (PUC-Rio)
Rua Marquês de São Vicente 225
Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil 22451-900
Tel.: 55 (21) 3527-1328
Email: agioda@puc-rio.br
Research Interests:The Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry and Toxicology, PUC-Rio (www.puc-rio.br), created in 2009, is under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Adriana Gioda. The laboratory currently has two undergraduates, one graduate student and two doctoral students.
The lines of research have special emphasis on Atmospheric Chemistry, Air Quality and Toxicological assays. Analyses have been conducted in partnerships with groups from PUC-Rio that have adequate infrastructure and equipments such as ICP-MS, ICP-OES, IC and TOC. There are also collaborations with other Institutions such as UFRJ (GC-MS) and UPR (Bioplex). Collaboration with the Institute for the Environment of Rio de Janeiro allows obtaining samples of PM2.5 and PM10 from regions with different activities to get a profile of the pollutants and identify the sources. These samples are analyzed to determine the contents of metal, ions and total organic carbon. Aqueous and organic extracted from these stations are currently being studied and toxicological assays in collaboration with Dr. Braulio Jiménez, Center for Environmental and Toxicological Research at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. Indoor Air Quality samples are being studied for volatile organic compounds and aldehydes in different environments. The aim of this study is to inventory levels of these pollutants in indoor environments in order to aid and define air quality standards for the Brazilian’s legislature. Moreover, validation of methodology for sampling and analysis is being performed.
Another area of research concerns the analysis of rainwater and aerosol samples collected in the Amazon region in collaboration with the University of Sao Paulo with the interest to collect information on the levels of metals and ions present through time. Collections are being performed throughout the year and analyses conducted to establish any possible pattern or associated phenomenon.