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Atmosphere
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Facing Air Pollution in Chile and Latin America: Present and...
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Facing Air Pollution in Chile and Latin America: Present and Future Challenges

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 August 2023) | Viewed by 11230

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Manuel A. Leiva-Guzmán

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile
Interests: analytical Chemistry; environmental chemistry; atmospheric chemistry
Dr. Richard Toro Araya

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile
Interests: climatology; atmospheric chemistry; environmental chemistry
Dr. Zoë Fleming

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR)2, Facultad de Ciencias, Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8370449, Chile
Interests: enviromental chemistry; analytical chemistry
Dr. Lorenzo Massimi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P. le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: particulate matter; chemical composition; air pollutant distribution; spatial distribution; seasonal variation; indoor/outdoor concentration; chemical fractionation; source tracer; source apportionment; receptor modeling; PMF; oxidative potential; oxidative stress; biomonitoring; element; environmental exposure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In Chile, almost 90% of the population lives in urban areas with poor air quality conditions. In the cities of Santiago, Temuco, Gran Concepción, Rancagua, Osorno and Coyahique, among others, the national air quality standards are consistently exceeded. The poor air quality observed in these cities is mainly due to rapid urban expansion, emissions from domestic heating systems, the growth of the automobile fleet, and industrial sources. Abrupt geographical conditions and meteorology dominated by low ventilation conditions lead to the accumulation of air pollutants. It is estimated that air pollution costs the Chilean health sector at least US 670 million annually, and is associated with as many as 127,000 emergency department visits and more than 4,000 premature deaths per year. The study of air pollution in Chile is an urgent requirement to protect human health and the environment, and to propose sustainable solutions.

The aim of this Special Issue is to advance the knowledge of the past, present and future state of air pollution and air quality in Chile, to propose possible solutions, and to unite the efforts and interests of various groups of researchers. 

Dr. Manuel A. Leiva-Guzmán
Dr. Richard Toro Toro Araya
Dr. Zoë Fleming
Dr. Lorenzo Massimi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • air pollution
  • air quality observations
  • air quality models
  • air pollution remote sensing
  • air pollution forecast modeling
  • ozone and their precursors
  • bioaerosol
  • particulate matter chemical characterization
  • emission inventory
  • health effects
  • mitigation strategy
  • source apportionment
  • transport and dispersion models
  • long-range transport
  • low-cost air quality sensors
  • urban environments
  • air pollution in pristine areas.

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3044 KiB  
Article
Identification of Surveillance Procedures for Diseases and Deaths Potentially Caused by Air Pollution and Possible Solutions as a Proposal for a Binational Surveillance System: A Case Study of Mexicali B.C., México-Imperial Valley, United States
by Marco A. Reyna, Daniel Cuevas-González, Roberto L. Avitia, Efrain C. Nieblas, Juan V. Mérida and Martha L. Nava
Atmosphere 2023, 14(3), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14030515 - 7 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1647
Abstract
In this paper, an integrative analysis is conducted for both sides of the border of Mexicali B.C. and Imperial Valley, regarding the official procedures and ways in which the collection, organization and disposal of data is carried out for the following: pollutant molecules [...] Read more.
In this paper, an integrative analysis is conducted for both sides of the border of Mexicali B.C. and Imperial Valley, regarding the official procedures and ways in which the collection, organization and disposal of data is carried out for the following: pollutant molecules such as PM2.5, PM10, CO, and O3; meteorological data such as temperature and relative humidity; data produced by epidemiological surveillance of acute respiratory infections; and deaths from all causes minus external ones. Some points around the binational surveillance system, raised in a technical report, are collected, giving continuity to the previous work carried out on this matter. Challenges are identified, recommendations are made, and possible solutions are offered to achieve a binational, unified and integrative system that centralizes meteorological, clinical, and pollution data, and that guarantees the quality and expeditious availability of the data concerning of the effects of air pollution on respiratory diseases and/or natural deaths of the local population. According to our results, air monitoring in Mexicali, clinical data on acute respiratory infections, morbidity, and mortality records must be improved, as well as the cooperation and coordination with the institutions of Imperial Valley. Finally, we show that despite the deficiencies and limitations found in the data generated in the locality, especially data on pollution and clinical data, it is possible, with great effort, to build models that measure and explain the effects of air pollution on health. Examples include the relative risk of death from exposure to PM2.5, PM10, CO, and O3; particulate matter air pollution effects on activation of pulmonary tuberculosis; the association between personal PM10 exposure and pulmonary function; and the estimation of costs and public health benefits by PM10 mitigation, among others. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Facing Air Pollution in Chile and Latin America: Present and Future Challenges)
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16 pages, 4932 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Atmospheric Environmental Regulations: The Case of Thermoelectric Power Plants
by Mateo Concha and Gonzalo A. Ruz
Atmosphere 2023, 14(2), 358; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14020358 - 11 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1697
Abstract
In Chile, the concept of sacrifice zones corresponds to those land surfaces in which industrial development was prioritized over the environmental impact that it caused. A high number of industries that emit pollutants into the environment are concentrated in these zones. This paper [...] Read more.
In Chile, the concept of sacrifice zones corresponds to those land surfaces in which industrial development was prioritized over the environmental impact that it caused. A high number of industries that emit pollutants into the environment are concentrated in these zones. This paper studies the atmospheric component of the Environmental Impact Declaration and Assessment’s (EID and EIA, respectively) environmental assessment instruments of the thermoelectric power plants in northern Chile, based on their consistency with current environmental quality regulations. We specify concepts on air quality, atmospheric emission regulations, and the critical parameters and factors to be considered when carrying out an environmental impact assessment. Finally, we end by presenting possible alternatives to replace the current methodologies and criteria for atmospheric regulation in areas identified as saturated or of environmental sacrifice, with an emphasis on both population health and an environmental approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Facing Air Pollution in Chile and Latin America: Present and Future Challenges)
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Review

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14 pages, 1281 KiB  
Review
Cyclone Separator for Air Particulate Matter Personal Monitoring: A Patent Review
by M. O. Rivera-García, M. A. Reyna, M. A. Camarillo-Ramos, M. A. Reyna-Vargas, Roberto L. Avitia, Daniel Cuevas-González and A. R. Osornio Vargas
Atmosphere 2023, 14(4), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14040624 - 25 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6929
Abstract
Currently, air pollution is a critical public health problem, which means that the daily measurement of urban air quality can be enriched if measured in a personalized way. Personal environmental monitoring devices can guide the population to take action. They can track their [...] Read more.
Currently, air pollution is a critical public health problem, which means that the daily measurement of urban air quality can be enriched if measured in a personalized way. Personal environmental monitoring devices can guide the population to take action. They can track their daily activities, avoiding situations that could affect their health, allowing them to precisely know the air quality they breathe in real-time in various microenvironments. In this work, we present a review of cyclonic separation technology patents, such as pre-separators in monitoring devices. We focused on the state-of-the-art commercially available personal monitoring devices, the classification of kinds of patents, and a review of cyclone patents and gas–particle separation behaviors. The World Intellectual Property Organization IP’s portal and Google Patents search engine were used, using international patent classification plus mesh terms involving a cyclone in an air particulate monitor after predefining inclusion and exclusion criteria such as gas–air cyclones, high efficiency, and fine particle separation. Twenty-nine patents were analyzed according to the main characteristics (e.g., cut point, flow rate, and cyclone improvement) available in the patent document. The wide range of cyclones indicates a maximum flow rate of between 0.5 and 4.5 Lpm and a lower cyclone cut point of 0.8 μm. This review includes a discussion of the most relevant features of the patent documents (flow rate, particle cut point, some cyclone improvements, and technology detection). This paper aims to give an overview of the use of cyclones as pre-separators for personal air monitoring devices and to acknowledge the patented improvements of new inventors or developers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Facing Air Pollution in Chile and Latin America: Present and Future Challenges)
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