Air pollution in Guatemala is a permanent problem that becomes more evident during events such as fires, which not only occur in forest areas, but also in landfills, such as the one located at kilometer 22 of the route to the Pacific, which caught fire on May 4.
Gustavo Estrada, researcher and coordinator of the Department of Health Sciences of the Institute for Research in Natural Sciences and Technology (IARNA) of the Rafael Landívar University, points out that only in emergencies such as The claims in the landfill In charge of the Authority for Sustainable Management of the Basin and Lake Amatitlán (AMSA), the issue of air quality acquires relevance. However, The contamination caused by this type of events represents an invisible evil for health.
These fires have several causes, such as chemical and thermal reactions in the garbage, which cause spontaneous fires. Nor is it ruled out that some are caused. Once the fire begins, the flames consume all kinds of waste and release a series of pollutants to the atmosphere, including toxic gases. Nevertheless, The greatest concern, according to Estrada, is the particulate material that occurs.
In March, the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) reported that the air quality index reached the level of “very bad” in areas such as Villa Nueva, Amatitlán, Mixco, San Miguel Petapa and several areas of the capital.
The registration at that time was a concentration of particulate material (PM) of 2.5 microns in diameter per cubic meter of air, when the limit allowed is five, According to the report When smoke dissipates, attention tooprepared by the Rafael Landívar University (URL).
Estrada mentions that the particulate material is composed of small fragments, more tiny than a grain of dust, imperceptible to the human eye, but that float in the environment and are loaded with toxic polluting materials, such as benzene, xylene, dioxins, furans, monoxide and carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides and heavy metals – plants, mercury, mercury, arsenic, chromium and copper.
When they are inhaled, these particles enter the respiratory system, and because of their tiny size they cross the pulmonary barrier, they pass into the blood and affect health. Prolonged exposure is associated with a greater incidence of chronic diseases, such as lung cancer, cardiovascular conditions and strokes.
“It’s a very serious, but invisible problem,” says Estrada. In Guatemala, air pollution impacts life expectancy, as international evaluations cited in the URL study indicate that, under these conditions, A Guatemalan could live 2.1 years less.
Danger areas
The report refers to the world classification of the most contaminated places presented in the 2024 World Air Quality Report. Region & City Rankingwhich indicates that Guatemala is the most polluted country in Latin America.
In the national territory, Mixco and Villa Nueva appear as cities with less breathable air.
The problem is not caused only by fires and landfills, but also by the emission of gases and particles from vehicle engines, as well as by the pollutants generated by industry and construction.
“The hypotheses regarding Mixco point to the confluence of the San Juan and Roosevelt roads. In fact, the most affected point of this intersection is the clover, which is the most polluted place in Guatemala City, to which the garbage dump of zone 3 is added,” says Estrada.
In the case of Villa Nueva, it could be due to Amsa’s garbage dump, as well as the passage of vehicles along the Pacific road. However, there are no studies that prove it, since In the country there is no systematic monitoring of air quality. A private company has some monitors installed in the city, and the University of San Carlos de Guatemala has others; From these the information is obtained, although this is insufficient.
AMSA’s problem
At the discretion of Carmen Sierra, IARNA Researcher Academic, the load capacity of the AMSA landfill is at the limit. While its closure is planned, the land to which it is transferred must be a place where there is no impact on water sources and “it is guaranteed that leachate – liquid that emanates from waste – does not contaminate the ground.”
On the other hand, the fires in this area will continue to occur as long as adequate waste management is not implemented, according to researchers. It is a problem that must be addressed by politicians and mayors.
“While the transfer of the AMSA landfill occurs, this is still a danger if it is not treated properly, which implies a specific system of drainage, constant monitoring of air quality and other analysis that allow to know what type of pollution is being expelled to the atmosphere. But if you go to another place and follow the same thing, it is only to move the problem,” says Estrada, and that there is a need to update national legislation on the subject.
Sierra adds that it must work in an integrated waste management, from the design of the products packaging to the final disposal. In this process, the classification of garbage by the population is essential, as well as the use of recyclable waste.
You have to put air quality in perspective, they point out. Not only is it about regulating to reduce pollution, but also promoting efforts aimed at creating monitoring systems that go beyond what happens in urban areas. The strategy must be expanded to identify the sources of emission of air pollutants and generate systemic solutions that have impact on people’s health.