Regresar

A review of the regulatory instruments for air quality and atmospheric monitoring systems: Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract:

Of the 23 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) 18 have their own and currently in force regulations concerning air quality, which are of public access in official websites. The traceability for such regulations is established for criteria contaminants (PM10, PM2,5, SO2, NO2, O3, CO), using as reference the historic sequence of standards of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the reference values of the World Health Organization (WHO). Atmospheric monitoring programs carried out by LAC countries are identified, as is the information dissemination in official websites. Regarding air quality monitoring systems it was found that 15 LAC countries collect data about some criteria contaminants, 13 of them publish part or all of it in official websites and, 5 do it in real time. Particulate material in its different sizes (PTS, PM10 o PM2,5) is the most monitored contaminant. The study revealed that in LAC countries the standing air quality regulation for criteria contaminants is not always updated to the last studies and they do not warrant protection to the health of the population. It is concluded that the regulatory periods and maximal thresholds in LAC countries' regulations are repeated from the standards and periods used at times by USEPA and WHO.