Abstract

GARCIA-UBAQUE, Juan C.; GARCIA-UBAQUE, César A.  and  VACA-BOHORQUEZ, Martha L.. Medical consultation concerning the productive aged Population and air pollution in Bogotá: 2008 and 2010. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2013, vol.15, n.4, pp.543-551. ISSN 0124-0064.

Objective Exploring the relationship of current air pollution levels in Bogota for breathable particulate matter (<10 microns) PM₁₀ and medical consultation during productive age (18 to 65 years old). Methods Data regarding Bogota's air quality monitoring network for 2008 to 2010 was reviewed, specifically PM₁₀ levels and diagnosis arising from medical consultations in Bogota's public hospitals during this time. Results: According to the air quality monitoring network's results there was an 8 μg/m³ decrease in annual average PM₁₀ from 2008 to 2010 (11.9 %) and, although consultations on grounds relating to air pollution increased by 58.7 % from 2008 to 2010, an overall 1.2 % decrease was observed when comparing this to the total of medical consultations each year. Conclusions A significant percentage of medical attention provided in Bogota may be related to its air quality; the set of control policies developed in Bogota for some time now have led to a significant reduction in PM₁₀ levels.

Keywords : Our-patient healthcare; air pollution; environmental health; urban health.

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