Environmental Management
R. Torres; N. Baker; G. Bernal; F. Peres; A. Maldonado; D.D. Caceres
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study is to evaluate in a time-series study the short-term effects of particulate matter-2.5exposure on respiratory emergency visits in six central-southern Chilean cities highly contaminated by wood smoke.METHODS: Association was assessed using both distributed ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study is to evaluate in a time-series study the short-term effects of particulate matter-2.5exposure on respiratory emergency visits in six central-southern Chilean cities highly contaminated by wood smoke.METHODS: Association was assessed using both distributed lag linear and non-linear Poisson models constrained to a 7-day lag period, adjusting for temporal trends and meteorological variables and stratifying seasonally into cold and warm periods.FINDING: The results showed that the daily average concentrations of particulate matter-2.5in the cold period were 3 to 6 times those recorded in the warm period, exceeding the daily norm of 50 µg/m3 the 93.3% of the time versus 6.7%, respectively. The average daily number of respiratory emergency visits were between 30% and 64% higher in the cold period compared to the warm one. From linear models, cumulative relative risk ratios over 0-7 day lags per 10 mg/m3 of fine particle increase were between 1.004 (95% confidence Interval: 0.998 - 1.010) and 1.061 (95% confidence Interval: 1.049 - 1.074); these annual effects are attributable to the cold period impact where the cumulative risk ratios were between 1.008 (95% confidence Interval: 1.004 - 1.012) and 1.036 (95% confidence Interval: 1.026 - 1.047), since significant effects of fine particles on the studied risk were not found for the warm period.CONCLUSION: With non-linear models we observed strong increasing associations with the level of particles for the overall period. High levels of fineparticles from firewood are associated with respiratory effects observable several days after exposure. Health effects found in this study suggest that current policies tending to mitigate woodsmoke-related emissions should continue and reinforce.
Environmental Management
D. Mahan; O. Waissbluth; D. Caceres
Abstract
Carcinogenic and systemic health effects of arsenic exposure in drinking water are well documented. This study estimated the risk associated with chronic consumption of water with high concentrations of arsenic in children and adults living in six Andean locations, in Chile. Concentrations of arsenic ...
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Carcinogenic and systemic health effects of arsenic exposure in drinking water are well documented. This study estimated the risk associated with chronic consumption of water with high concentrations of arsenic in children and adults living in six Andean locations, in Chile. Concentrations of arsenic in the drinking water were analyzed between 2014 and 2017 based on health authority reports and data collected during this study. Average daily arsenic intake was estimated, and systemic (HQ) and deterministic carcinogenic risk (CR) indices were calculated using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology. Threshold values of HQ>1 and CR> 1 x 10–4 were considered to indicate high risk of adverse health effects. Four of the locations (Chucuyo > Putre > Humapalca = Visviri) had high concentrations of arsenic in the water, at levels 6.3–57.6 times the norm of 0.01 mg/L, Zapahuira and Belén, had values just below the threshold. Extremely high HQ values were estimated in children, at 1.3–119.8 times the threshold. Furthermore, CR values were several orders of magnitude (3.06–10790.6) above the tolerable value among all age strata. The locations studied have a high risk of adverse health effects from exposure to arsenic in drinking water. It is urgent to implement mitigation measures to improve water quality in these communities and to carry out probabilistic studies to provide more accurate assessment of exposure.
