Currently,
the air quality index of Santiago—Chile’s capital and largest city—is at
hazardous levels, which means, “everyone may experience more serious health
effects” (World Air Quality Info). Interestingly, it is the only city in South
America that experiences such disastrous air quality. All of the other South
American cities experience air quality that is good, moderate, or only
unhealthy for sensitive groups. From 2000 to 2010, the air pollution of
Santiago doubled, and it is now commonplace for atmospheric concentrations to
exceed the standards set by the EPA. Santiago is an outlier for various
reasons.
Extensive
usage of diesel trucks as a means of transporting goods contributes heavily to
smog in Santiago. In an effort to reduce the amount of exhaust being emitted by
diesel trucks, the Chilean government began a replacement process of the
transit system in 2005, but these efforts ended quietly in 2010. Another major
contributor to smog is the El Teniente copper mine. The smelter process
conducted at the factory contributes to air pollution year-round, yet it is
never mentioned as a source of pollution since it does not actually fall within
the Santiago Metropolitan Region boundary. Therefore, ever since the mine’s
opening in 1819, nothing has been done to reduce its harmful emissions.
Despite
these two highly problematic sources of air pollution, another major factor for
Santiago’s smog is due to the physical geography of the city. The city is located
in the “middle of two mountain ranges, surrounded by the Andes and the cordillera
de la costa (Coastal
Mountain Range)” (Gastal). This geographical set-up creates Thermal inversion
during the winter, a phenomenon in which a layer of warm air holds down cold
air close to the ground, trapping it there. Although Santiago may have a
geographical disadvantage, it is vital that the city create more restrictions
on air pollutants, thus creating a safer environment for its citizens.
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