CALIDAD DEL AIRE RESPECTO DE METALES (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, Cr) Y RELACIÓN CON SALUD RESPIRATORIA: CASO SONORA, MÉXICO

Satisfactory air quality is a fundamental human right. Atmospheric pollution has been identified in many cities around the world, generated by industrial and population growth which represents health hazards. This study evaluates the air quality by metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, Cr) as well as the possible relationship between them and respiratory health (acute respiratory infections known as ARIs and pneumonia - bronchopneumonia) during an annual period in six cities (Agua Prieta, Nogales, Puerto Penasco, Hermosillo, Guaymas and Obregon) in Sonora, Mexico. Total suspended particles were sampled by high volume every six days and the samples were analyzed by atomic absorption. It was found that except Ni for the city of Nogales, the concentrations of the metals studied did not exceed the maximum permissible level used as air quality criteria (Pb according to the mexican standard, Ni according to the european community standard, and Cu and Cr according to the canadian standard). A significant correlation coefficient was found between ARIs and Cu in Hermosillo and Obregon, and between Ni and pneumonia-bronchopneumonia in Guaymas. The presence of metals and the damage to health that it represents, make it necessary to have a mexican governmental strategy of an air quality state implementation plan (SIP) in the studied cities.