translated from Spanish: Environmental emergencies marked the arrival of the cold day in Coyhaique

The low temperatures in the capital of the region of Ayse n noted. The Secretary of the Ministry of environment of region XI predicted pre environmental emergencies during three days in a row (for 23, 24 and 25 April) in Coyhaique. In a population where the majority depend on firewood heating, this is no coincidence.
The pre emergencies include a concentration of particulate (MP) fine 110-169 ug/m3 to MP 2.5. “MP 2.5 travels into the bloodstream to your brain, your heart, your respiratory system,” said one of the founders of breathe Coyhaique, Macarena Diaz.
While the seremi predicted days of pre environmental emergencies, that does not imply that at times the concentrations of MP 2.5 exceed their ranges of values. “Where you forecast pre emergency can happen that the average is preemergence but just for a few hours of the day there are environmental emergency,” says Diaz.
For example, according to data obtained through the system of national quality information from Aires (since), at 22:00 on 24 April there was a concentration of 579 ug/m3 to MP 2.5, exceeding by quite a preemergence ranges.
The measures referred to in the Ministry of health in cases of pre environmental emergency are:
Prohibition of using more than one appliance to wood for housing, 24 hours a day.
Prohibition on using wood-burning boilers in commercial premises 24 hours a day.
Prohibition of organize or carry out mass sports activities in the open air, be they of medium and high intensity.
Authorization to perform only low intensity physical activity.
The effects of the smoke
Concentration on the use of wood-fired heating has direct involvement with respiratory, cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer. “The most vulnerable are children and the elderly, mainly for the most vulnerable families with less income,” explained Jorge Sastre geriatrician to breathe Coyhaique.
“In general the elderly as well as cardiovascular, respiratory problems and cancer, may also be higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and also increased risk of fragility”, concludes tailor.

Original source in Spanish