Fires in Bogotá: How to check the air quality by area?

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After announcing effects on air quality due to the forest fires registered in Bogotá, the District Environment Secretariat indicated that the towns of Suba and Fontibón are the ones with the most critical state of contamination in the entire city. However, the entity made a new tool available to citizens with which they can evaluate air conditions and the risk that exists due to atmospheric pollution.

Through the Bogotá Air Quality and Health Risk Index (Iboca), the District Environment Secretariat shows the climatic conditions of each locality. To access this map click on the following link or download the Iboca application through the App Store or Play Store. There you will find a numerical scale, classified by color, on which you can identify the risk that the climate represents for your health.

What are the places most affected in Bogotá?

According to the report presented by Iboca, the town of Kennedy is the one that presents the highest risk level for the city’s inhabitants after reaching 155 percentage points. This index shows that people who circulate or reside in this area of ​​the country’s capital could have severe effects on their health, especially at the respiratory and cardiovascular levels.

Next are the towns of Ciudad Bolívar, Puente Aranda, Fontibón and Chapinero, which have regular air quality compared to other places in the city such as Suba and Engativá, which currently represent a low risk for the health of Bogotá residents in terms of air quality. of air pollution. Keep in mind, however, the following recommendations from the authorities regarding the recent fires that have occurred in the center of the country:

• Avoid proximity to the fire area to avoid inhaling smoke.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a mask or a wet handkerchief if you live near the emergency area.
• Close doors and windows.
• Clean household surfaces and floors using cloths moistened with water.
• Do not light candles, incense, cigarettes, vapes or use vacuum cleaners inside the house.
• Do not perform physical activity in the affected areas.
• Do not use the natural trails near the fire site.
• Stay hydrated, drink water and avoid consuming sugary or carbonated drinks.