São Paulo faced alarming air quality deterioration, ranking as the world’s most polluted city for five days in September 2024 due to rural fires. Experts warn that Brazil loses $1 billion annually to poor air quality, with necessary investments in monitoring and management still lacking. Recent laws aim to address these issues, but substantial monitoring gaps persist, necessitating urgent action to protect public health and economic stability.
In September 2024, São Paulo garnered national attention when it became the world’s most polluted city for five consecutive days, as reported by Swiss-based IQ Air. This pollution surge stemmed from an alarming number of fires in rural regions, which generated thick smoke that enveloped the skies over the city and nearby municipalities. Despite a temporary reprieve from summer rains, the underlying issue of air quality deterioration remains unaddressed.
Experts stress an urgent need for investment in air quality enhancement by both the government and Brazilian companies. Data illustrates the severe health impacts caused by poor air quality, leading to significant economic losses. Pathologist Paulo Saldiva from the University of São Paulo (USP) estimates that Brazil’s financial losses amount to $1 billion yearly due to abnormal temperatures, potentially rising to $3 billion when pollution is factored in.
Saldiva emphasizes that these losses reflect years of productive life lost to premature deaths among the working age. This underscores air pollution’s detrimental effects, which the World Health Organization (WHO) links to approximately 7 million global deaths annually. In Brazil, over 50,000 deaths are attributed to air pollution, compounded by conditions like respiratory diseases and hindered lung development in children.
Henrique Cury, CEO of EcoQuest, states that convincing business leaders of the necessity to invest in indoor air quality remains challenging, despite growing awareness following recent natural disasters. Increased interest in air quality is evident after catastrophic events like urban fires or significant flooding, as these disasters highlight urgent health risks.
Cury notes that previous misconceptions among company managers about the benefits of air quality investment are beginning to shift, with many now recognizing the importance of reducing employee absenteeism due to health issues. This cultural evolution signals progress in addressing air quality concerns amid ongoing climate challenges.
Research indicates that deaths from forest fires between 2000 and 2016 cost Brazil an estimated $81 billion. This study aims to legitimize investments aimed at preventing environmental degradation that impacts air quality. Saldiva points out the lack of a coherent state policy to renew air quality initiatives, framing it as a citizenship issue and a fundamental right.
Recent legislation, Law 14850/2024, outlines a National Air Quality Policy that mandates emissions inventories and monitoring of pollutants. However, experts like David Tsai from the Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEMA) argue that meaningful compliance is far from achieved, with a concerning lack of monitoring stations leading to unreliable data.
IEMA’s research reveals Brazil needs to install at least 46 additional monitoring stations based on U.S. standards, or 138 based on EU standards. Major metropolitan areas face significant deficiencies in air quality monitoring, lacking automatic stations altogether, which highlights critical gaps in Brazil’s air quality management framework that hamper effective public policy.
Investment in air quality monitoring is crucial for developing appropriate public policies, with estimated costs ranging from R$16 million to R$49 million. This investment is small relative to the immense annual healthcare costs incurred due to respiratory issues, suggesting that improving air quality management may lead to considerable long-term savings.
Senator Mara Gabrilli’s PEC 7/2021 proposal seeks to enshrine the right to air quality in Brazil’s Constitution. Her focus on air quality intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, which demonstrated the health risks of poorly ventilated spaces. Gabrilli asserts that securing this right could catalyze positive changes in public health measures and quality of life standards across Brazil.
The Senator highlights the necessity for Brazil to enhance its air quality monitoring efforts. Transparency in these processes enables societal oversight of progress and pressure on authorities to act. As of the article’s publication, the Ministry of Health had not provided updated comments on these issues, although it has engaged in environmental health initiatives over the past two decades.
Brazil is experiencing escalating problems with air quality, significantly impacting public health and economic productivity. Efforts to improve air quality monitoring and initiate public health policies are crucial. Legislative actions, along with increased awareness and necessary investments by both the government and private sector, are vital steps towards addressing this urgent issue. Ultimately, the trajectory for air quality management must pivot towards accountability and targeted action to ensure citizens’ rights to clean air.
Original Source: valorinternational.globo.com
