[Indoor air pollution in a zone of extreme poverty of La Pintana, Santiago-Chile].
BACKGROUND
Indoor pollution can be an important risk factor for human health, considering that people spend more than 60% of their time in their houses.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate indoor pollution in a zone of extreme poverty in Metropolitan Santiago.


METHODS
During 24 h, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), respirable particulate matter (PM10), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons absorbed in PM5, temperature and humidity, were measured in the interior of 24 houses in a La Pintana, Santiago.


RESULTS
The higher pollutant concentrations were observed during hours when heating was used, in houses that used coal (mean PM10 250 micrograms/m3, CO 42 ppm, SO2 192 pph) or firewood (mean PM10 489 micrograms/m3, CO 57 ppm, SO2 295 pph). In all houses, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected and they came from the interior of the house and not from external filtered air. Coal, firewood and cigarette smoke were important sources of carcinogenic and kerosene and gas were sources of non carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.


CONCLUSIONS
In the houses studied, the population was exposed to an accumulation of highly toxic pollutants, caused by a lack of ventilation. A high relative humidity also contributed to the growth of biological pollutants.
Cáceres
D
D
Programa Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago 7, PO Box 70086.
Adonis
M
M
Retamal
C
C
Ancic
P
P
Valencia
M
M
Ramos
X
X
Olivares
N
N
Gil
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D011204:Poverty Areas; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D013696:Temperature; D014505:Urban Population
D000393:Air Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D002248:Carbon Monoxide