Air quality in Parque O’Higgins on February 5, 2023

Chile has eight of the 10 cities in South America with the worst air qualityaccording to figures from 2017 to 2021 prepared by the Swiss firm IQ Air, an expert in the field.

Among the Chilean cities that appear in the list are Angol, Coyhaique, Padre de las Casas, Colonel, Temuco, Traigue, Nacimiento and Santiago.

At the World level, the five most polluted countries last year these were Bangladesh, Chad, Pakistan, Tajikistan and India; while the 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).

Among the countries that make up the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Chile is the third member with highest average annual concentration of particulate matter (PM) 2.5.

Given this panorama, we leave you below the state of the air quality on February 5, 2023 in O’Higgins Park:

Good (PM 2.5 15 µg∕m³) ICAP 30
Good (PM 10 58 µg∕m³N) ICAP 45
Good (nitrogen dioxide 11.08 ppbv)
Good (carbon monoxide 0.46 ppmv)
Good (Ozone 5 ppbv)

Constraints in “good” condition

Heating: ban on the use of wood-fired heaters (except pellets) in the province of Santiago and the municipalities of San Bernardo and Puente Alto.
Visible smoke control at radiators.

Car: permanent restriction to vehicles without green seal inside the Américo Vespucio Ring and four-digit restriction outside the Américo Vespucio Ring, Monday to Friday.
Permanent restriction to vehicles with a green seal (two digits), registered before September 1, 2011, Monday to Friday.

motorcycles: permanent restriction to motorcycles (two digits), registered before September 1, 2010, Monday to Friday.

trucks: goods transport restriction, without green seal, four digits, Monday to Friday.

Fixed fonts: Not Applicable.

dry firewood: ban on agricultural burning throughout the metropolitan region, between March 15 and September 30.

Physical activity: Not Applicable.

ICAP

Air quality index referred to particles (ICAP) according to Supreme Decree No. 59/1998 of the General Secretariat of the Ministry of the Presidency of the Republic (MINSEGPRES) which establishes the primary quality standard for respirable particulate matter PM10 and in particular the levels that define Environmental Emergency situations.

Good: 0 – 99
Regular: 100 – 199
Alert: 200 – 299
Pre-emergence: 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 can be generated by both mobile and stationary sources, natural or anthropogenic, associated with generally uncontrolled combustion and combustion processes in vehicles, foundries, paints, ceramics and power plants.

General recommendations

In pre-emergency days and environmental emergencies, the use of masks is recommended for the elderly, children, pregnant women and the chronically ill.

Prefer public transport and/or carpooling.
Keep vehicles up to date with gas overhaul and change engine oil before it expires.
Do not smoke inside the home, workplace or office.
When buying a heater, make sure it is certified for emissions, energy efficiency, and safety.
Do not burn leaves or trash.
Denounce those who do not respect the measures adopted for the alert, pre-emergency and emergency days.
Carry out the maintenance of the resistances with the periodicity indicated by the manufacturer.
Appropriate use of space heaters
Always use dry firewood (less than 25% humidity), distributed by established merchants.
Always use cut firewood, do not burn whole logs.
In wood-burning stoves, light the fire only with paper and dry kindling.
In wood-burning stoves, keep the draft fully open for at least 10 minutes after lighting the fire or reloading the wood.
Constantly check the evacuation of fumes through the barrel of your heating appliance or wood stove. If visible, open your heater’s draft to maintain a bright flame. Never completely close the draft of your heater.
Prevent a layer of creosote and soot from forming in your flue, as this increases the risk of ignition, reduces heating capacity and further contaminates your stove.
If possible, replace the old heater with one that produces fewer emissions and performs better.
Prioritize the use of alternative fuels such as: gas, electricity, briquettes, petroleum derivatives, pellets, among others.
All firewood merchants must have a municipal patent, tax and forestry documentation, which proves the legal origin of the firewood.
Ask for your receipt when buying firewood. With it you can assert your right as a consumer to change the product or refund the money if you are not satisfied with the purchase.