Evaluación de la calidad del aire en zonas cercanas al Valle de Aburra/Antioquia, Colombia por contaminantes atmosféricos con influencia minera e industrial.

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate air quality in an area near a mining activity zone in the department of Antioquia by analyzing the criteria pollutants (NO₂, SO₂, O₃, PM10, and PM2.5) and their relationship with meteorological conditions through the calculation of the Air Quality Index (AQI). To achieve this, a comparative analysis was conducted between the years 2022 and 2023 using data obtained from monitoring stations. The concentrations of criteria pollutants and their temporal variability were characterized, identifying the meteorological factors that influence their dispersion and accumulation. Additionally, AQI values were calculated for each pollutant to determine their impact on air quality and public health. Furthermore, pollution roses were generated to assess the influence of wind direction and speed on the distribution of pollutants in the study area. The results indicated that there were no exceedances for any of the pollutants evaluated according to current regulations. However, ozone (O₃) showed concentrations close to the regulatory threshold, particularly at station CA-1 during 2023. In the AQI calculation, most stations remained in a good category for health, indicating favorable air quality conditions in the study area. This analysis provides key information for environmental management and the development of mitigation strategies aimed at improving air quality in the region.