Assessment of Black Carbon in Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí, México, During Sugarcane Harvest 2020-2021

Abstract

Abstract This work evaluates Black Carbon emissions produced in Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí, México, during the harvest 2020–2021 of Ingenio Plan de Ayala and its association with the sugarcane sector in its area of influence. Black Carbon concentrations were measured each hour by the 7-wavelength aethalometer (AE-33) from November 13, 2020, to June 7, 2021, at Tecnológico Nacional de México - Campus Ciudad Valles, located northeast of the city, approximately 1 kilometer from Ingenio and bordered by the sugarcane area. The maximum daily concentration recorded was 4.5 ± 0.072 µg m− 3 with a daily average of 0.9 ± 0.014 µg m− 3, enough to increase the mortality of the long-term exposed population by almost 6.0% moreover, according to the World Health Organization, and to cause environmental and productive effects. The burning of fossil fuels represented 62.9% of the total Black Carbon, indicating that contrary to official statistics, Ingenio Plan de Ayala may continue using fuel oil. Likewise, there was a statistically significant difference in Black Carbon concentrations during harvest and no harvest periods, indicating a direct relationship between its emissions and the sugarcane sector of this region. The highest concentrations were in the surrounding area of Ingenio Plan de Ayala and sugarcane lands, which supports the previous theory. With the results obtained, the bottom line is that evaluating other agricultural burning emissions near the growing cities is necessary to minimize adverse effects on human health and reduce CO2eq emissions.