Eight of the 10 cities with the worst air quality of South American countries are located in Chiliso pollution is one of the main problems facing this Latin American nation.
According to a report by IQ Air, a Swiss air quality technology company, Among the most polluted cities with historical data in South America from 2017 to 2021 are the following Chilean cities: Angol, Coyhaique, Padre de las Casas, Coronel, Temuco, Traigue, Nacimiento and the capital, Santiago.
Worldwide, the five most polluted countries in the last year They were Bangladesh, Chad, Pakistan, Tajikistan and India; while by capital, New Delhi (India) is the most polluted for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and Muscat (Oman).
Of the countries that make up the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Chile is the third member with highest annual average concentration of particulate matter (PM) 2.5.
Given this context, we leave you below the status of air quality this May 25, 2024 in Coyhaique:
Emergency (MP 2.5 258 µg∕m3) ICAP 793
Preemergence (MP 10 279 µg∕m3N) ICAP 398
Heaters: prohibition of the use of wood heaters, including pellets, throughout the metropolitan region.
Control of visible smoke from heaters.
Car: permanent restriction on vehicles without a green seal inside the Américo Vespucio Ring between 07:30 and 21:00 hours and six-digit restriction outside the Americo Vespucio Ring, any day of the week.
Permanent restriction to vehicles with a green seal (two digits), registered before September 1, 2011, from Monday to Friday.
Motorcycles: permanent restriction on motorcycles (two digits), registered before September 1, 2010, from Monday to Friday between 07:30 and 21:00.
Freight transport: restriction on freight transportation, without green seal, six digits from Monday to Friday and four digits on weekends and/or holidays.R Restriction on freight transportation, with green seal, two digits from Monday to Friday and two digits weekend and/or holidays
Fixed Sources: they paralyze point and group sources that have not proven, through isokinetic measurements, that their concentrations of particulate matter are lower than established by the plan.
Dry Firewood: prohibition of agricultural burning throughout the metropolitan region, between March 15 and September 30.
Physical activity: It is recommended to refrain from physical activities. The SEREMI of Education may recommend modifying physical activity in educational establishments.
Air Quality Index referred to Particles (ICAP) according to DS No. 59/1998 of the Ministry General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic (MINSEGPRES) which establishes the Primary Quality Standard for Respirable Particulate Material MP10 and especially the levels that define situations of Environmental Emergency.
Good: 0 – 99
Regular: 100 – 199
Alert: 200 – 299
Pre-emergency: 300 – 499
Emergency: 500 – higher
PM10 or coarse particles, also called inhalable particles, are particles smaller than 10 micrometers but larger than 2.5 micrometers in diameter that are found in the air and are generated by mobile and stationary sources, naturally or anthropogenically, associated with usually to uncontrolled combustion and combustion processes in vehicles, foundries, paints, ceramics and power plants.
On pre-emergency and environmental emergency days, the use of masks is recommended for older adults, children, pregnant women, and chronically ill people.
Prefer public transportation and/or car sharing.
Keep vehicles with gas checks up to date and change the engine oil before its expiration.
Do not smoke inside the house, workplace or study.
When purchasing a heater, make sure it is certified for emissions, energy efficiency and safety.
Do not burn leaves or garbage.
Report those who do not respect the measures adopted for alert, pre-emergency and emergency days.
Perform maintenance on the heaters with the frequency indicated by the manufacturer.
Proper use of heaters
Always use dry firewood (less than 25% humidity), distributed by established merchants.
Always use chopped firewood, do not burn whole logs.
In wood-burning heaters, start the fire only with paper and dry kindling.
In wood heaters, keep the draft completely open for at least 10 minutes after starting the fire or refilling firewood.
Constantly check the smoke coming out of the flue of your heater or wood stove. If it is visible, open the vent on your heater to maintain a live flame. Never completely close the vent of your heater.
Prevent a layer of creosote and soot from forming on your barrel, as this increases the risk of inflammation, reduces heating capacity and causes more pollution to your stove.
If possible, replace the old heater with one with lower emissions and higher efficiency.
Privilege the use of alternative fuels such as: gas, electricity, briquettes, petroleum derivatives, pellets, among others.
All firewood dealers must have a municipal license, tax and forestry documentation, which proves the legal origin of the firewood.
Demand your receipt when purchasing firewood. With it you can assert your right as a consumer to exchange the product or get your money back if you are not satisfied with the purchase.
