Proposals for the Decrease of Mortality due to Air Pollution in Santiago

Abstract

Health damage and mortality due to air pollution in Santiago is proportional to the inhaled and retained breathable particulate matter, which increases under heavy physical activity. The mass of mostly contaminated air moves daily through Santiago so that its different sites are affected at different times. Hourly information on location of highly contaminated air may suggest to avoid heavy physical activities at the time of peak contamination, specially to population at risk (seniors population, subjects with known cardiovascular disease and children). Based on the above. the Chilean Colegio Médico (Chilean Medical Association) Santiago Regional Council informs on line on its Web page the hour values of PM10 air particulate matter, at places it is measured in Santiago, in contraposition to hourly mobile 24-hr averages Health Authorities inform, which do not provide information on the peak contamination hours. If Chilean Health Authorities accept our proposition to inform hour contamination values online, it should contribute to decrease disease and mortality rates due to air pollution in Santiago.