By María Josefina Arce

International health agencies have warned that both short- and medium-term exposure to high levels of air pollution can increase the risk of respiratory diseases, heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.

According to studies, more than seven million people die each year from conditions caused by poor air quality, a situation that could be avoided.

Hence the importance of close monitoring, a task in which Cuba is engaged, developing various initiatives in this direction to protect the health of the population.

TINAIR, a project to monitor, evaluate and manage air quality and its impact on human health and ecosystems, has been implemented in Cuba since last year.

With national scope and financed by the Nuclear Energy and Advanced Technologies Agency, it is carried out by the Centre for Environmental Studies in Cienfuegos, in the centre of the country.

It contributes to the National Economic and Social Development Plan until 2030, to the Sustainable Development Goals and to the State Plan to confront Climate Change, known as Tarea Vida.

The initiative is already showing progress such as the implementation of an Air Quality Station in the industrial zone of the province of Cienfuegos, which strengthens the capacity to detect the presence of the so-called PM 2.5 and PM 10 particles.

These terms refer to airborne particles such as soot, dust, smoke and aerosol, which can be inhaled and accumulate in the respiratory system.

It also monitors pollutant gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone.

The project also foresees the installation this year of a new sampling station in Havana, the capital city, which will enable the monitoring of air quality in Cuba to be expanded.With TINAIR, the Cuban scientific community is once again putting its knowledge and efforts into guaranteeing a healthy life for all citizens.