THE SPACES OF RISK TO HEALTH RESULTING FROM ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

ABSTRACT The air quality in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro (MRRJ) is compromised due to the presence of the second largest concentration of sources of air pollutants in the country, potentiated by the relief that interferes with the transport of atmospheric pollutants, forming areas with distinct concentrations. Despite this, MRRJ has received major projects such as the Rio de Janeiro Petrochemical Complex (COMPERJ) and the Companhia Siderúrgica do Atlântico (CSA), as well as many other industries attracted by the new BR493 highway, the Metropolitan Arc. Thus, the objective of this work is to identify areas of risk to human health, that is, the areas that most concentrate air pollutants and that are inhabited by a more vulnerable population. The methodology uses the ArcGis software to create maps of the areas with difficulties in dispersing atmospheric pollutants and of the vulnerability of the population, so that when they are overlaid a map is created showing the spaces of risk to health. The results show that the risk areas are precisely in the municipalities of the MRRJ that have received the most new ventures, which may exacerbate the health risk of the population.

摘要 本研究针对里约热内卢都会区（Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro，以下简称MRRJ）展开分析。该区域空气质量受损，源于其拥有全国第二大空气污染物排放源集中区，且该问题因当地地形干扰大气污染物输送而进一步加剧，最终形成了污染物浓度分化显著的区域。尽管如此，MRRJ仍承接了诸多重大项目，包括里约热内卢石油化工综合体（COMPERJ）、大西洋钢铁公司（CSA），以及大批因新建BR493公路（大都会环线）入驻的其他工业企业。据此，本研究旨在识别对人体健康构成威胁的区域，即污染物浓度最高且居住着更脆弱人群的区域。本研究采用ArcGIS软件，分别绘制大气污染物扩散受阻区域与人群脆弱性分布地图，将二者叠加后即可生成健康风险空间分布图。研究结果表明，健康风险区域恰好集中在MRRJ内引入最多新建项目的辖区，这可能会进一步加剧当地人群的健康风险。