El Ciudadano
Original article: Crítico 2026 en Santiago: Ciudad aparece entre las 5 urbes más contaminadas del Mundo
In recent days, Santiago, Chile, has emerged as one of the cities with the worst air quality globally, according to the monitoring platform IQAir, which tracks this data in real-time across more than 9,400 cities worldwide.
Additionally, the Chilean capital began this week under a new environmental pre-emergency, surpassing the number of similar episodes recorded throughout the entire previous year (2025).
«Unfortunately, we have grown accustomed to the poor air quality in our cities, especially from the central region southward during winter. However, it is extremely concerning that the air we breathe is more toxic than that found in cities in China, India, or Pakistan—countries notorious for their significant emissions and pollution,» warned Silvana Espinosa, climate and ecosystems expert at the international organization Greenpeace.
The NGO spokesperson explained that much of this pollution comes from fine particulate matter (PM2.5), one of the most dangerous pollutants for human health.
«PM2.5 particles have a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (meaning they are smaller than a human hair), which allows them to penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. This is why air pollution from PM2.5 is associated with chronic respiratory diseases, asthma and bronchitis, strokes, cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, and premature deaths, among other health issues,» Espinosa recalled.
Given the seriousness of air pollution on human health, in 2025 the Sustainability and Climate Change Ministers Council approved an update to the air quality standards, in effect since 2011, incorporating new guidelines in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
However, «despite the significance of this update for public health, Supreme Degree N°3 from the Ministry of the Environment—with this update—was only submitted on March 11, 2026 (the last day of President Boric’s administration) to the General Comptroller for processing and was withdrawn the following day—March 12—by the current government, pausing its processing,» Espinosa commented.
The halted regulation addressed new concentration limits for fine particulate matter, setting the annual limit at 15 micrograms per cubic meter (15 μg/m³) and the daily limit at 38 micrograms per cubic meter (38 μg/m³).
Furthermore, thresholds for critical episodes were to be established based on the mobile concentration of 24-hour PM2.5 at designated stations. Thus, levels between 68 and 97 μg/m³ were categorized as “Alert”; between 98 and 157 μg/m³ as “Preemergency”; and 158 μg/m³ or higher classified as “Emergency.”
This decree also declared a zone as ‘Saturated’ when maximum values permitted by the standard (annual or daily) are exceeded, and ‘Latent Zone’ when pollutant concentration is between 80% and 100% of the standard value.
According to the spokesperson, keeping this regulatory update stalled without progress sends a bad signal to the public, as what is at stake is the health of millions, regardless of political disputes.
«Every day, thousands of people suffer the consequences of the polluted air they breathe. Healthcare facilities are facing increasing pressure due to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, while scientific evidence about the impacts of pollution becomes more compelling. Therefore, it is incomprehensible that a measure aimed at protecting public health remains on hold,» questioned the Greenpeace representative.
The expert concluded that Santiago’s current position in international air pollution rankings should serve as a wake-up call for authorities.
«We cannot normalize having our cities ranked among the most polluted in the world. Each day that the implementation of stricter standards is delayed is another day that millions remain exposed to dangerous levels of pollution. The air quality cannot keep waiting: protecting it is safeguarding health, quality of life, and the future of our nation’s inhabitants,» concluded Espinosa.
We will continue to provide updates.
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