CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Major citiesin South-central Chile suffer high levels of particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5due to combustion of solid fuels for heating. Exposure to these air pollutants isrecognized as a major contribution toill health in the region. Here we discuss new strategies to reduce air pollution.Regulations and subsidies focusing on improved combustion by providing drier woodfuel and better stoves have been in effectsince 2007. However, air pollution due to combustion of wood fuel has been steadilyrising, along withreports on health consequences. The paper analyzes a survey of 2025 households inthe city of Valdivia,which found that wood fuel quality, stove renewal, and awareness of programs arestrongly affected byincome level, and that higher consumption of wood fuel is found in households alreadyhaving better stoves and drier wood fuel. The analysis suggests that regulationsintended to improve combustion areinfluenced by user´s behavior and have limited potential for lowering pollution.We conclude thatthermal refurbishment has a larger potential for improvement, not yet been implementedas an energypolicy for the majority. Here we propose improvements and additions to current programsto enhanceeffectiveness and cover the whole social spectrum.