Air pollution in Peru
Air pollution in Peru has become a matter of concern as about twelve million cases of illness in the country have been linked to environmental problems. Such medical issues in Peru is dramatically affecting young children, the poor and the elderly group who cannot afford medical care in the country. The primary source of this air pollution is from the oil industry, the vehicle emissions and the mining industry. Still, the mining of lead in the country is the key contributor of the increased number of respiratory illness among children, the poor and elderly groups. For this reason, there is a need to initiate control measure of air pollution such as controlled mining of lead, reduced use of oil products in the country.
Background and context
To understand the air pollution problem facing the Peruvian population, we conducted a cross-sectional study on the impact of air pollution in Peru city. Data from this research indicated that one out of every five children in the Peru city has a respiratory illness resulting from lead or other highly toxic chemicals that have occurred to air pollution in Peru. According to our research data, the principal sources of air pollution in Peru include the gas and oil industry, the vehicle emissions and the mining industry. Among these sources of air pollution, the mining of lead-based on our research analysis was seen to contribute to a high level of respiratory health illnesses of about forty per cent out of the eighty-seven per cent respiratory illnesses reported in the country. Our research further pointed out that, Peru air concentration is also at risk as it has reached 25mg/m3 instead of the 10mg/m3 maximum recommended by the world health organization. Hence, for this reason, air pollution is a matter of grave concern as it can result in a high number of mortalities in the country. And thus an urgent intervention is needed to avert the consequences of these highly growing air pollution in Peru city.
The following graph shows air pollution in Peru in (percentage) arising from vehicle emission, lead mining and Gas and oil mining in Peru city.
From the above graphs, it is clear that the rate of air pollution-related diseases in Peru continues to rise due to an increase in air pollution in the country.
Analysis and control
Although there may be no specific method of cleaning the air in Peru, various measures to control the current trend are necessary to control the rise in inspiration related infections and the high mortality of children and aged population. These methods include;
- Establishments of Peru Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for formulating and implementing all related air pollution policies and control
- Peru should establish state implementation plans to achieve air quality standards
- Public campaign on the importance of controlling air pollution
- Increase enforcement on air pollution control nationwide by use of a give set control measures
- Plantation of many trees that will help to clean the air
- The leading mining to be conducted in either enclosed areas or under galvanized rooms
- All the vehicles over ten years old to be bunt from accessing road networks
- Oil and gas mining to be done under closed areas
- All citizens living in around Peru city to wear face masks to control breathing harmful gases and lead metal particles which are highly accumulated in the air
The above methods to control air pollution are possible since they were conducted in China in 1997, and the results were very encouraging as it reduced most of the air pollution in the China atmosphere.
Limitations and buriers
Controlled mining and extraction of lead may not be conducted 100%, and hence it will continue the population the environment.
It will also be challenging for public members to start observing new norms necessary to control air pollution in the country.
The cost of implementing all air pollution-related control may go up to 150 Million US dollars and which may not be available from the government treasury.
Conclusion
Air pollution in Peru has been one of the keep problems that has resulted in a high mortality rate in the country. Focusing on the rising cases of respiratory diseases in the country that are resulting from air pollution, there is a need to control air pollution in Peru to improve health-related factors for Peru population. Since there is no specific method of air cleaning, public members should follow necessary guidelines that have been proposed for air pollution control including; tree planting, wearing of masks to control air pollution-related infections, establishments of Peru Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for formulating and implementing all related air pollution policies and control and Public campaign on the importance of controlling air pollution Increase enforcement on air pollution control nationwide by use of a give set control measures.