Expert warns that mortality rate can reach 28% during pre-emergency alerts

SANTIAGO.- The President of the Department of Environment for the Chilean Society of Pediatrics, Andrei Tchernitchin, has stated that the airy quality in Santiago is a “very grave” health issue, arguing that mortality could reach “28% during pre-emergency alert episodes”.

“Generally, 50 people die per day.  Nevertheless, when the index reaches the level between good air and regular air (150 micrograms), mortality increases by 10% during the first few days of the episode.  Therefore, if contamination levels remain at a pre-emergency and emergency alert level (500 micrograms) mortality rises by 28%, meaning 14 additional people die as a result of contamination”, he asserted.

The environmental toxicology expert maintained, “the public is informed within an average of 24 hours, and not every hour as they should be, and so the current model is of little use, because it is important for people to know when there is a peak, so that they don’t perform physical activity”.