Prevalence of bronchitis in children at Latin America's largest open-pit coal mine

Abstract

Background/objectives

Air pollution, the presence of substances that harm other living organisms, results from human activity. Open-pit coal mines are notable sources of particulate matter emissions, which spread over considerable distances and affect surrounding communities. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of prolonged exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of ≤10 μm (PM₁₀) emissions from Latin America's largest open-pit coal mine on bronchitis incidence in children aged 0–4 years.

Methods

We collected daily PM₁₀ concentration data from 25 stations between January 2011 and December 2019, monitored every three working days. The AirQ + model was used to estimate the human health impacts of long-term exposure to ambient PM₁₀ using the bronchitis prevalence data from the National Institute of Colombia.

Results

From 2011 to 2019, the average daily PM₁₀ levels for the zones directly and indirectly impacted by mining were 37.52 and 31.54 μg/m³, respectively. Approximately 500 bronchitis cases were attributed to PM₁₀ pollution. Moreover, an average reduction of 15 μg/m³ in the annual mean PM₁₀ concentration could prevent 56 bronchitis cases annually in children near the mines.

Conclusions

From 2011 to 2019, all monitoring stations consistently recorded more than the World Health Organization's annual average reference of 15 μg/m³. Our findings on the long-term effects of PM₁₀ on bronchitis prevalence underscore the health impact of air pollution, emphasizing the importance of stringent air quality standards, particularly in industrial mining zones. This information is vital for developing, monitoring, and assessing air pollution policies while safeguarding public health.