Buses, motorcycles, trucks, taxis, trucks, private cars and behind a trail of black smoke. It's noon, rain and steam which focused on the pavement of a busy intersection rises to mix with the heavy smog that makes the toiling breath walking on a downtown street. Uff.
The pollution peaks coincide with the hours of peak vehicular traffic. The Ministry of Transport and Traffic estimates Medellin metropolitan area are enrolled a total of 888,595 vehicles and 407,911 motorcycles. Only in Medellin, until August 2010, there were 148 787 individuals, 26 512 28 099 motorcycles and public transport vehicles, taxis and official cars.
The self-propelled growth has tended to increase (see table), and these indicators you can sum that more than 50 percent of light vehicle fleet has more than 10 years and 36 percent of the trucks over 30 years, and as they age, their systems are deficient tecnicomecánicos and generate more emissions.
These data are revealing if one takes into account that air pollution in the city is generated particulate matter by 66 percent for those mobile sources, and 31 percent on fixed or industrial type according to the Ministry of Environment Medellin.
In the region working in the Air Decontamination Plan for the Valley of Aburrá to achieve goals and come up with a particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2, 5) in 2020 to 20 micrograms per cubic meter. In 2009, the average was 30 and noticeable reductions.
Improvements in fuel
Because PM 2.5 is particulate matter that brings major health problems, one of the main challenges is to strengthen the control of emissions from mobile sources that emit 78 percent of the PM 2.5. In 2008, the Mayor of Medellin, the Metropolitan Area and Ecopetrol signed an agreement to reduce the sulfur content in diesel and gasoline.
This happened to 4,500 parts per million of sulfur in diesel, to 20.5, exceeding the initial commitment of Ecopetrol to reach 50. A development that has brought positive consequences: a study by the entity, the Department, the Group Health and Environmental Management at the Polytechnic (Ghygam) and the University of Antioquia, reveals that since 2009 has been reduced by 3 micrograms per cubic pollution PM 2.5.
But while the policy of improving fuel means less aggressive smaller particulate pollution is urgent modernization of the fleet, because "with a clean fuel led to a bad state machine is like erasing with his left hand what is did right, "said Miriam Gomez, director of Ghygam.
In gasoline was down commitment to 300 parts per million and we reported area between 220 and 230.
According to the Ministry of Health, Bogota, quoted by the News Agency of the National University, 10 micrograms per cubic meter of particulate matter reduction, consultations for acute respiratory infections decrease to 15 percent.
A negligible amount is nothing, above all, a fact that gives the Conpes 3344 of 2005, which contains national guidelines for the formulation of a policy of prevention and control of air pollution: this phenomenon is costing the country 1.5 billion pesos a year, related to effects on public health, mortality and morbidity.
Critical points
The Metropolitan Area installed 16 monitoring stations of air quality. In those located in the center (Miguel de Aguinaga building), San Antonio Park and Itagüí observed higher levels of contamination. Also, in areas such as the 15-Guayabal commune by high concentration of industry and traffic, main roads and intersections.
Tuesday to Friday levels increase, coming down Saturday and Sunday. The most polluted experienced periods between February and March and September and October. And the PM 2.5 and ozone are the pollutants that most concern and is working on several plans, they exceed twice the value of the standard.
Lower rates is not easy nor short term, but the commitment must be generalized, finally, is our air, we share without distinction, and is what keeps us alive.
"The contribution of industry in this pollution
Stationary sources, industrial type, are responsible for 77 percent of sulfur oxides emitted into the atmosphere in the Valley of Aburrá. If all industries registered in the Aburrá comply with the requirements, said Maria Victoria Toro, director of the Environmental Research Group of the UPB, would decrease by 15 percent of air pollution.
In this issue, the Metropolitan Area is focused on nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides, the two most problematic components have and where enterprises have more difficulties to comply with regulations. The area is oriented mainly in about 40 companies which account for 80 percent of the emissions from stationary sources.
The textile, glass and ceramic brick dominate emissions of particulate matter and gases, and municipalities as Itagui, Medellin and Barbosa made great contributions.
With the entry into force of Resolution 909 of 2008, more restrictive national standard for the emission of pollutants in stationary sources, these entities have new challenges. Between 55 and 60 percent are satisfied.