Brazilian Journal of Enviromnent
Open Access Journal
CiteScore
0.5
Indexada na
SCOPUS
QUALIS
B2
2021-2024
quadriênio
Open Access Journal
0.5
Indexada na
SCOPUS
B2
2021-2024
quadriênio
Planejamento e Meio Ambiente | Vol. 14 Issue 2 (2026)
Published in August 15, 2026
● 
https://10.66205/rvbma.v14i2.2168
Air quality management depends on identifying areas where pollutant concentrations exceed the reference values established to protect human health. Comparisons between Brazilian and international air quality standards, and actual compliance with these standards, remain scarce in the literature. This study compared Brazilian state and national air quality standards (CONAMA Resolution No. 506/2024) with the standards of the European Union (EU), the United States (USA), and the World Health Organization (WHO), and assessed, for the state of Minas Gerais, compliance of PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, O3, CO, and TSP concentrations with these standards. Data from 2023 from all automatic monitoring stations in the state were used, obtained from the State Environmental Foundation (FEAM) and grouped into five regions. Brazilian standards proved less restrictive than international ones, especially compared to WHO guidelines. Monitoring coverage in the state is limited, concentrated mainly in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte. The WHO annual standards for PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 were not met in any region, while SO2, O3, and CO, monitored in only two regions, showed compliance above 90% with WHO guidelines. No international standards exist for TSP, but this pollutant showed compliance above 92% with Brazilian standards. It is concluded that a persistent challenge remains in achieving and maintaining satisfactory air quality in Minas Gerais, with continuous population exposure to pollutants above the concentrations recommended for public health.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Adriana Wilken, Augusto Batista
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8808-8581
