São Paulo ranked as the world’s most polluted city for several days due to rural fires, leading to widespread concern about air quality in Brazil. Experts claim that poor air quality costs the country $1 billion annually, with potential losses tripling when factoring in pollution. New laws aim to improve air quality oversight, but significant monitoring gaps remain, necessitating urgent action from various stakeholders.
In September 2024, São Paulo made headlines as the city dominated the world’s pollution rankings for five consecutive days, primarily due to rural fires across the state. These fires caused severe air quality issues that adversely impacted urban areas, transforming the sky a disturbing red. While the situation improved with the onset of summer rains, the underlying problem of air quality remains critical and unresolved.
Experts have emphasized that both governmental and corporate entities in Brazil must prioritize investing in air quality enhancements, particularly in residential and commercial buildings. Poor air quality is already causing serious harm to public health, which has far-reaching implications on workforce productivity and economic outcomes.
Pathologist Paulo Saldiva estimates that Brazil suffers annual economic losses of $1 billion solely due to non-ideal temperatures, while including pollution-related impacts could increase this figure to $3 billion. This substantial loss stems from the premature deaths of individuals during their most productive years, leading to a reduction in societal economic potential.
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) attributes 7 million premature fatalities each year to air pollution, with over 50,000 deaths occurring in Brazil alone. Poor air quality is heavily linked to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular ailments, and lung cancer, which in turn stunts children’s lung development, thereby affecting health and productivity across generations. The challenges posed by climate change, such as extreme weather events, further complicate the air quality issue.
Henrique Cury, CEO of EcoQuest, highlighted the challenges in persuading business leaders to acknowledge the necessity of improving indoor air quality. He noted that reducing employee absenteeism is often the most immediate motivation for such investments. Post-pandemic, awareness and urgency regarding air quality issues have surged considerably, especially following natural disasters like significant fires and floods.
Cury remarked, “Climate disasters are always related to air quality in some way.” While some company managers still express skepticism about the benefits of investing in air quality initiatives, recent disasters have heightened interest in and recognition of this critical issue.
A study co-authored by Prof. Paulo Saldiva calculated that from 2000 to 2016, the economic losses attributable to deaths caused by forest fires amounted to $81 billion. This research aims to underpin the importance of funding preventative measures against events that degrade air quality, though Prof. Saldiva warns that Brazil currently lacks a cohesive state policy for improving air quality on a sustained basis.
The National Air Quality Policy was established in 2024 under Law 14850/2024, outlining principles and guidelines for tackling air quality issues. The law stipulates responsibilities like defining atmospheric pollutants and developing emission inventories essential for identifying pollution sources across various sectors.
David Tsai from the Institute for Energy and the Environment stresses the inadequacy of existing air quality monitoring infrastructure. He criticized the scant monitoring efforts across states, as many do not produce reliable pollution data. Current facilities do not meet the necessary standards for comprehensive air quality management.
With only 245 monitoring stations currently operational in Brazil, there remains a pressing requirement for additional stations. Meeting U.S. or European standards would necessitate establishing a minimum of 46 to 138 additional stations, particularly across major metropolitan regions which are currently underserved in terms of air quality monitoring.
Investment in air quality management is expected to yield significant public health benefits, translating to estimated costs between R$16 million and R$49 million, a modest price in contrast to the substantial health-related expenditures incurred from respiratory diseases.
Senator Mara Gabrilli introduced a proposal (PEC 7/2021) to amend Brazil’s Federal Constitution to enshrine the right to clean air among fundamental citizen rights. She highlights that the pandemic underscored the vital connection between air quality and public health, emphasizing the need for legislative assurance of citizens’ right to clean air in all environments.
Senator Gabrilli expressed confidence in the potential for her proposal to effectuate meaningful change in governmental and corporate approaches to public health and quality of life. She cites international successful models as examples that could be adapted within Brazil, emphasizing the urgency of enhancing air quality monitoring and infrastructure improvements.
In summary, Brazil faces a significant public health and economic challenge due to deteriorating air quality exacerbated by climate change and urban pollution. Experts advocate for increased investment in air quality management to mitigate health impacts and boost productivity. Legislative initiatives and monitoring improvements are critical to ensure transparency and accountability. Without concerted efforts, the adverse effects of pollution will continue to burden public health and economic vitality in Brazil.
Original Source: valorinternational.globo.com
