QUANTIFICATION OF AIR POLLUTION AND ITS POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCE IN GUATEMALA
CHRISTOPHER OH
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
JAMES SUNG KIM
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
TAEHOON HAN
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
SUNWOO ANDEE LEE
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
KYU JIN JUNG
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
LYDIA YE
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
LYNN PARK
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
SANG HEUN LEE
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
GIYOON LEE
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
KELLY KIM
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
CARA CHONG
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
YAE JUNE LEE
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
HAE SEOK YOON
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
SKY LEE *
Excel Research Laboratory, 39-13 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Many rising health complications plague countries worldwide. Air pollution and global warming are some of the most significant contributors. In developing countries, i.e., China, India, or Guatemala, people are contracting severe illnesses such as pneumonia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and various cardiac or respiratory diseases due to air pollutants mainly emitted during rapid economic development. Most under-developed countries are not able to provide sufficient funds for medical treatments or do not know the potential consequences of these diseases in the long run. Among various factors of air pollutants, carbon monoxide presents a significant threat, mainly because it is toxic and invisible to humans. Despite extensive research on the life-threatening effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, appropriate measures have not been fully executed. The objective of the study was to demonstrate the connections between rapid urbanization and carbon monoxide levels in an emerging country. Our research team visited Guatemala to monitor carbon monoxide levels in diverse locations of varying conditions: population, residence, transportation, urbanization, or use of different ventilation. In areas with high-level carbon monoxide (CO), an Easy Log El-USB-CO was used. In highly populated urban areas, the CO level reached up to 200 ppm, and elevated approximately 5 hours, though ups and downs. Our results supported the claims that people in Guatemala have been intoxicated with carbon monoxide and that a central government should find ways to combat this ongoing, silent epidemic.
Keywords: Air pollution, carbon monoxide, gas monitoring, data logger, pulmonary disease, urban industrialization