Analysis of environmental health issues associated with mud-brick production Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina

Abstract

The environment is a complex system and its inherent quality has a direct implication over the well-being of different populations. Hence, it must be studied in an interdisciplinary fashion and with a territorial approach. Environmental pollution is now becoming increasingly important in all aspects of life and health is not exempt as it cannot be studied in isolation from environmental elements.

 In the outskirts of Villa María the mudbrick manufacturing activity developed more than two decades ago, and its associated impact, have different dimensions, including atmospheric emissions. For this reason, the main objective of this research is to diagnose environmental quality and its relationship with cardio-respiratory pathologies in the “Boliche el Palo”. We set out to measure particulate material on site, assess the health status of city inhabitants and to establish probable relationships between identified diseases and concentrations of measured particulate matter.

 Partial results were produced in the past in separate research in connection to the environmental health of the inhabitants. We intend to expand this line of research in an interdisciplinary way, and to achieve a broader approach to these issues.