Abstract

ROSSO PINTO, Mauricio et al. Ecosystem Fragility Analysis as A Strategy for Estimating the Associated Risk to Atmospheric Pollution in Alto San Jorge, Colombia. Cuad. Geogr. Rev. Colomb. Geogr. [online]. 2022, vol.31, n.2, pp.303-323.  Epub Nov 17, 2022. ISSN 0121-215X.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rcdg.v31n2.95774.

Air quality in the Alto San Jorge region is being affected by mining, with environmental impacts associated to human health problems. The objective of the study was to analyze the environmental fragility of the ecosystems to identify and relate the effects on environmental health as a consequence of the emission of atmospheric pollutants. The methodology began with the physical and geospatial characterization of the area and the attribution of weighted weights through the hierarchical analytical process. The weighted summation of the information layers was performed in GIS, defining ecosystem fragility classes based on Ross (1994). In this way, the threats and risks due to atmospheric contamination for SO2, NO2, PM25 and PM10 were determined. The results showed the existence of medium to high and high risk for SO2 in the areas surrounding the urban centers. For NO2, the risk was homogeneous at an intermediate level for the entire area, and for particulate matter (2.5µm and 10 µm), from medium to high and high due to the influence of ferronickel and coal mining. This study indicates the need to apply timely prevention, mitigation and/or control measures for this risk.

Keywords : air quality; air pollution; environmental fragility; ecosystem impacts; mining; environmental health.

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