September 27 (Urgente.bo) – The air pollution index in the city of La Paz rose from 150 to 208 in one day. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), this number means it is very harmful to health, not just for people with underlying medical conditions, children or the elderly, but for the entire population.
Arias said: “We have never reached these levels of pollution (…) and instead of reducing it, it is getting worse. The situation we are facing is very serious.”
Last Tuesday, the ICA index was 150, indicating poor air quality, said Eduardo Galindo, city secretary for environmental management and renewable energy in the La Paz mayor’s office.
According to the minister, the Pollution Index or ICA stipulates six categories of hazards, and the higher the index, the worse the air quality.
Galindo believes that an index of 51 to 100 is acceptable and that vulnerable groups may develop symptoms.
101 to 150 can be harmful to health, especially for sensitive people such as children, asthmatics or the elderly, or people with heart or lung problems.
150 to 200 is bad for everyone.
From 201 to 300, it means the air quality is very harmful to health, meaning everyone is likely to experience an alert state of more serious health conditions.
The mayor said the smoke came from northern La Paz, with fires breaking out in Cotapata, Caranahui, Guanai and other places.
health effects
City Health and Sports Secretary Fatima Verdugos said air pollution is harmful to public health and breathing it in can cause coughing, eye irritation and other illnesses. He said there have been reports of patients experiencing coughing and difficulty breathing over the past few days.
“We have not only children, the elderly, but the general population at risk,” he said.
Effects include lung damage, exacerbation of heart and lung disease, asthma attacks, bronchitis, chest pain, fatigue, rapid heartbeat and coughing.
Precaution
Arias recommended drinking plenty of fluids, covering food in public places, washing fruits and vegetables before eating them, wearing masks, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.