Air pollution in tropical areas

Sci Total Environ. 1982 Apr:23:3-10. doi: 10.1016/0048-9697(82)90115-2.

Abstract

Air pollution problems in three different tropical areas are presented. The levels of various atmospheric contaminants (i.e. SO4) indicate that the operation of a large petroleum refinery affects a substantial portion of the island of Curacao. A significant fraction of the suspended particles in Curacao are due to non-traditional open source emissions aided by the predominantly high wind speeds. Particulate missions from the industrial complex in Guayana, Venezuela, noticeably affect the surrounding savannah. The constant direction of the Trade Winds is an important factor in the high long-term average particulate levels down-wind of the complex. A serious atmospheric contamination problem (i.e. TSP) exists in The Valley of Caracas. The high emission, principally due to the circulation of vehicles, exceed the average dispersion capacity of the atmosphere.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollution / analysis*
  • Tropical Climate*
  • Venezuela
  • West Indies