Abstract

GAVIRIA G, Carlos F.; MUNOZ M, Juan C.  and  GONZALEZ, Gabriel J.. Air pollution and vulnerability of exposed individuals: the case of downtown Medellín. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.3, pp.316-327. ISSN 0120-386X.

The presence of respiratory problems in high level pollution areas is linked to factors such as exposure, susceptibility, and social coping. OBJECTIVE:o present statistical evidence regarding the relationship between the probability of experiencing symptoms or contracting a respiratory disease and factors such as exposure to pollution, susceptibility, and social coping among people inhabiting areas with particulate matter pollution. METHODOLOGY: The study used unique information collected from a survey conducted on 1000 people in downtown Medellin who were exposed to this problem. This information was used to perform a descriptive statistic analysis and to build 27 PROBIT models. The dependent variables were: the patient has a symptom or disease -EMF-, the patient has a symptom -LEVE-, and the patient has a respiratory disease -GRAVE-. Results: The results evidence that exposure is a key variable affecting the presence of respiratory symptoms or diseases (vulnerability); however, exposed individuals may also experience health problems not only due to air pollution per se, but also to implicit personal and social conditions.

Keywords : air pollution (Q53); health vulnerability (I10).

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )