Abstract: This work investigates magnetic particles occurrence on atmospheric particulate matter. We present magnetic susceptibility measurements of mice tissues (brain, lung and kidney) and isothermal remanent magnetization measurements of air filters provided by an air pollution controlled experiment conducted at the University of São Paulo Medical School. In the experiment, mice were exposed to air pollution between summer and winter of 2022. We seek to correlate magnetic properties of air filters and biological tissues that could be interpreted in terms of atmospheric conditions. Our preliminary results on air filters suggest the occurrence of higher magnetic content in the atmosphere during São Paulo’s winter relative to summer season. The observed change from summer to winter, in terms of magnetic particles in atmospheric particulate matter, is probably due to the precipitation patterns of both seasons, winter being the driest one and therefore richer in particulate matter. During summer, precipitation levels are highest along the year, resulting in less particulate matter in the air. The magnetic properties recorded on biological tissues are in agreement with the air filter magnetic measurements, suggesting that magnetic particles from air pollution can enter the measured organs.

Keywords: Health, Particulate Matter, Iron, Mice, Magnetism.