In dependencies of the municipal sports complex of Rahue Alto in Osorno, a new air quality monitoring station was installed in which Los Lagos University with its researcher’s team Dr. Rodrigo Márquez y Dr. Ricardo Fernández achieved a project through Fonis (National Health Research Fund) financed by Ministry of Health.
The modern equipment will allow us to reliably measure particulate matter 2,5 pm. The event was inaugurated by authorities this Thursday precisely in the sector which has the highest levels of contamination and where 53% of the urban population lives.
As explained by the mayor, Emeterio Carrillo “¿Why do we think in Rahue Alto? This is because 53% of the urban population lives and allows us to measure in a better way the critical moments that we have had in Osorno which occur during the winter season between April and September of each year. This also allows us to take important steps. We are one of the most polluted cities because we measure, I am sure there are other cities more polluted, but they do not measure, we prefer to be sincere and demonstrate what we are breathing, for this, we accepted having two monitoring plants to look for the solution of the problem that we have”, said the mayor.
One of the stations is in the eastern sector of the commune, specifically at the Hogar El Alba on Zenteno Street and this station, which was previously located at the Colegio Emprender will now be in Rahue Alto. Its measurements will register online through the National Air Quality Information System, SINCA.
The station monitoring presence from today will officially belong to the National Air Quality Information System, SINCA, it will allow us to know in real-time the air quality in our city, covering approximately 80% of the city’s urban area, we hope that this virtuous partnership between Chilean state entities will promote new collaborative projects shortly between our state of Los Lagos University, state institutions, the municipality of Osorno and the private sector. As a university, we offer our teams of disciplinary experts in this and other related areas” says Oscar Diaz, vice-rector of Research and Postgraduate Studies at ULagos.Carola Iturra, Seremi of Environment, who also participated in the ribbon cutting of this monitoring station explained “This second monitoring station is particularly important because it will complement the air quality monitoring and especially for the period of critical episode management. This period, established in the Osorno Atmospheric Decontamination Plan (PDAO), begins on April 1, and lasts until September 30, with daily monitoring and quality air projection for the following
Carola Iturra, Seremi of Environment, who also participated in the ribbon cutting of this monitoring station explained “This second monitoring station is particularly important because it will complement the air quality monitoring and especially for the period of critical episode management. This period, established in the Osorno Atmospheric Decontamination Plan (PDAO), begins on April 1, and lasts until September 30, with daily monitoring and quality air projection for the following day”.
There are two monitoring stations settled in the commune, where ULagos researchers record the episodes in different sectors, which allowed them to determine the highest levels of contamination of Rahue Alto during critical episodes.
“This equipment allows us to measure in real-time the contamination of thin particulate matter, 2.5, which enters our airway, reaches the lungs, and passes into the bloodstream generating a series of health complications. Both equipment (fixed and not fixed) also allow us to take measurements of meteorological variables, ambient temperature, barometric pressure, moisture, and something especially important such as wind direction and speed, these parameters affect particulate accumulation matter and therefore, the determination of critical pollution episodes. By a mapping together with Professor Rodrigo Márquez, we determined that the western area of the city, particularly Rahue Alto, has higher levels during critical pollution episodes than those reported by the Ministry’s official station, which was the reason for the urgent need for equipment “, explains Dr. Ricardo Fernández.
From measurements, it is known that Osorno is one of the southern communes with the highest levels of contamination, it is necessary to have information on what is happening in other province communes and regional provinces, a situation that the Los Lagos University is taking care of through its researchers work.
“The idea is that we can reach cities and urban areas where we did not measure before, we intend for this movable station to be in Rio Negro, in Purranque and Frutillar this year to establish the first measurements regarding the condition they are having. We also have a measurement project for this year in Castro, Chiloé. The Municipality of Osorno has collaborated hard with us and has also provided us with sponsorship to be able to advance in health-related research, both respiratory and cardiovascular. We have established a virtuous circle of work between the municipality and the university, this is unbelievably valuable for the research work because it takes place at the local level where both institutions have responsibilities”, explained Dr. Rodrigo Márquez.
