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. 2023 Jul 12;9(7):e18191. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18191

Table 1.

Particulate matter (PM)-related air pollution.
Impacts
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    More than 10 million Chileans (53% of the population) are exposed to ambient PM2.5 concentrations above the national air quality standard [53].

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    Around 3640 cases of premature mortality due to air pollution-related cardiovascular and respiratory diseases were estimated in 2018 [54].

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    Seven south-central cities have ambient annual mean PM2.5 concentration above the national air quality standard (Fig. 1) [55].

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    High PM2.5 concentrations are also present in indoor environments [56].

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    Evidence of positive relationships between ambient PM levels and the rates of mortality and morbidity for cardiovascular and respiratory causes [57].

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    Greater risk of mortality and morbidity for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases when people are exposed to air polluted with wood smoke [57].
Causes
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    Significant demand for space heating energy in central-south Chile [58] due to the cold and humid climate [59].

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    Wood biomass is the main energy fuel for residential space heating and cooking in south-central Chile [56].

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    Wood biomass burning is the main source of PM2.5 in cities of central-south Chile [54,57].

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    Wood is the most economical and accessible source of energy [60]; Large use of cheaper wet wood [60].

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    Use of open fireplaces and old wood stoves with low thermal efficiency [61,62].

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    Low energy performance of housing [[63], [64], [65]]: 80% of dwellings have little or no thermal insulation [61].
Current plans for action
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    Building thermal regulation standards: Article N°4.1.10 of the General Law of Urban Planning and Construction (OGUC) [66].

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    Air Quality Management Plans (PPDA) applying to highly polluted cities (south of Santiago): provide grants for house thermal retrofit and space heating system upgrade. Retrofits under PPDA must comply with higher limiting standards for insulating fabric elements than in the OGUC [67].

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    Program for the Regeneration of Social Housing Complexes (PRCH) of the Supreme Decree Nº18 of 2017: include state subsidies for building thermal retrofit, which must comply with higher limiting standards for insulating fabric elements than in the OGUC [68,69].