Abstract

Black (BC) and Brown carbons (BrC), are pollutants that affect people’s health, the ecosystems, and the global climate as precursors of global warming (UNEP and CCAC, 2016; MMA 2018; Molina et al. 2015; Mazzeo et al. 2018). They are considered fine particulate material (aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) that impoverishes air quality in cities, human health, and crops. BC and BrC have a similar structure to graphite consisting of aggregates or chains of small spherules (between 10 and 50 nm approximately); they transform into a gas at very high temperatures (> 4000 ° C). They are insoluble in water and other solvents; finally, they effectively absorb solar radiation in the visible spectrum. (Bond et al., 2013). 

These pollutants remain in the atmosphere for a few days until it is deposited on soils, snow, and other earth surfaces. Having the property of absorbing solar radiation, BC and BrC increase the temperature of these surfaces, accelerating, for example, the melting process of snow and ice (Rowe et al., 2019). In addition, it intervenes and modifies the methods of the formation of clouds and ice in the atmosphere. Therefore, despite its short life in it – compared to greenhouse gases that can be maintained for more than a century – their effect as a forerunner to climate change is critical, and its mitigation has short-term results.   The cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez have seen a few studies related to the black carbon risk to the health of school-age children. No BrC study has been done in this region. We consider that a characterization of BC and BrC sources and behavior in our area is essential as our airshed is already polluted by a baseline amount of BC and BrC. We have observed that there is a big increase from this baseline during the winter season and during summer (wildfire season) that should continue to be monitored.