Pollution worsens, Cochabamba hospital discovers more cases

Air pollution worsened yesterday as smoke from the Santa Cruz and La Paz fires carried winds and increased particulate matter, forming a thin layer of mist over the area. The upper valleys, Southern Cone and tropical areas are also affected.

The Air Quality Monitoring Network (MoniCA) of the Cochabamba Mayor’s Office reported that particulate matter concentrations increased from 76.2 particles per cubic meter (μg/m3) on Wednesday to 90.5 particles per cubic meter (μg/m3) on Thursday.

In fact, Thursday saw the highest pollution recorded so far in November. No. 1 reached 60.1 µg/m3, No. 2 reached 46.1, No. 3 reached 48.9, No. 4 reached 55.5, No. 5 reached 40.9, No. 6 reached 28.8, and No. 7 reached 56.7.

“We have seen that the concentrations are increasing compared to yesterday. On Wednesday the concentration was 70 micrograms per cubic meter and on Thursday it was 90 micrograms per cubic meter.” Fabiola Cáceres, head of the MoniCA network (Fabiola Cáceres) said.

He explained that although the daily value of 150 days stipulated in Environmental Law No. 1333 has not been exceeded, it has exceeded the daily value of 45 days set by the World Health Organization.

Air quality is “poor” and poses a moderate risk to population health. “High-risk groups such as children, people over 60 years old, pregnant women and people with respiratory diseases are advised to avoid open settings,” he urged.

Hospital

Carlos Rojas, director of the Cochabamba Hospital, reported yesterday that statistical studies had found an increase in respiratory diseases due to pollution.

The most common illnesses are bacterial pneumonia, acute pharyngitis and bronchitis.

“These conditions increase during the cold season, but even when we are no longer in winter, pollution levels start to increase,” Rojas explained.

He said children and the elderly were the most affected. “Forty-two percent of the patients treated were pediatric or neonatal, with the remaining 48 patients coming from the internal medicine department,” he said.

Also, since pollution can lead to conjunctivitis, a variety of lenses are available to protect against smog and sunlight.