Helena Joyce
South America, home to the world's second-largest river and longest mountain range, is facing a plethora of environmental issues. From hydrometeorological problems to biodiversity loss, the continent is struggling to adapt to the changing environment. One of the most pressing issues is pollution, which takes the form of air, water, and land pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Water pollution | A large portion of water goes untreated for human consumption and use. Major water bodies, including the Medellin River, Guanabara Bay, and Riachuelo River, are subjected to large-scale industrial and anthropogenic pollution. |
| Water scarcity | Countries like Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Colombia face water scarcity and droughts, leading to loss of livelihoods and biodiversity. |
| Deforestation | The Amazon rainforests in Brazil and the Gran Chaco forest in Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia face significant deforestation, threatening indigenous livelihoods and amplifying climate change. |
| Air pollution | Megacities like Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Lima, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo contribute to air quality deterioration due to industrial and automobile emissions. Over 150 million people live in urban areas with poor air quality, leading to approximately 45,000 premature deaths annually. |
| Climate change | Chile is vulnerable to climate change due to the widespread use of wood for heating and cooking, resulting in high levels of fine particulate matter in the air. |
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What You'll Learn
Air pollution in cities
South America is a continent known for its biological diversity and natural landscapes, home to the world's second-largest river and longest mountain range. However, South America faces a multitude of environmental issues, including air pollution, which is the largest single environmental risk for health, causing about 7 million deaths per year worldwide.
Air Pollution in South American Cities
Air pollution is a significant issue in South American cities, with urban growth, industrial emissions, and automobile emissions being the main causes of poor air quality. Developing countries with rising economies, rapid industrial growth, and poor emission controls are major contributors to air pollution. South America has five megacities (Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Lima, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo) with over 10 million people, and these cities face wide-ranging environmental consequences due to their large populations.
In South America, atmospheric particulate matter (APM) is a significant concern as it transports trace metals and metalloids through the atmosphere, impacting air quality and human health. Despite the phasing out of leaded gasoline, metals like lead (Pb) continue to be a problem due to vehicular pollution. Brazil and Argentina's megacities have the highest number of studies on this topic, but updated research is needed to address the serious health issues posed by fine and ultrafine particulate matter.
The population growth and accelerated urbanization in South American cities are reliant on industrial production, energy generation, and transportation, which are the main activities contributing to air pollutant emissions. This has led to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3). Despite efforts to monitor air quality, critical episodes of air pollution continue to occur, and annual particulate matter levels in many cities exceed World Health Organization guidelines.
In 2023, Coyhaique, a Chilean city east of the Andes, was the most polluted city in Latin America based on fine air particulate matter concentration (PM2.5), with an average concentration of 33.2 micrograms per cubic meter. Other Chilean cities like Nacimiento and Santiago also reported high PM2.5 concentrations. From the 27 South American cities in the WHO datasets, 22 cities in 5 countries (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru) exceeded the PM2.5 annual guideline, demonstrating the widespread nature of air pollution in the region.
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Water pollution
South America is home to about 30% of the world's fresh water sources. However, the region has been battling a water crisis, with millions of people lacking access to clean drinking water. This crisis is due to a range of factors, including poor or untreated water, large-scale mismanagement, overexploitation, and pollution.
The main sources of water pollution in South America include industrial waste, human and animal waste, sewage, and oil. Major water bodies such as the Medellin River in Colombia, Guanabara Bay in Brazil, and Argentina's Riachuelo River are subject to large-scale industrial and human pollution. In addition, the Mapocho River in Chile was once highly polluted but has since been cleaned up, serving as a model for river restoration.
The consequences of water pollution in South America are severe, leading to health risks, environmental degradation, and economic impacts. The region's groundwater is also facing relentless exploitation, with increasing pollution from commercial use. Furthermore, the melting of glaciers in the tropical Andes and Peru contributes to rising water levels and poses a threat to water security and ecosystems.
To address the water pollution crisis, governments, communities, and corporations must work together to implement strategies for preserving water resources and preventing further disaster. Cross-border collaboration has been crucial in safeguarding water sources, as seen with the Guarani Aquifer System spanning Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Additionally, investments in wastewater treatment plants, such as in Santiago, have proven effective in treating polluted rivers.
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Deforestation
South America is facing a multitude of environmental issues, one of the most significant being rampant deforestation. The continent is home to the world's largest river and the longest mountain range, boasting a diverse environment that fosters a wide array of life. However, the Gran Chaco, the continent's second-largest forest, is under severe pressure from deforestation.
The semi-arid indigenous forest of Gran Chaco spans over a million square kilometres across Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Since 1985, this forest has lost approximately one-fifth of its trees, amounting to around 140,000 square kilometres of land. This deforestation is threatening the livelihood of indigenous peoples and hunter-gatherers who call this forest home. The diverse flora and fauna of the Gran Chaco, including dry thorn forests, cactus stands, palm savannas, and native animal species, are all at risk due to deforestation. The South American jaguar and the screaming hairy armadillo, for example, are facing disappearance.
The causes of deforestation in South America are multifaceted. Illegal agriculture, drug trafficking, and coca crop cultivation have been identified as significant drivers of deforestation in protected areas and indigenous territories. The expansion of cropland, often driven by investors, contributes significantly to carbon emissions and biodiversity loss. Additionally, the perception of forested areas varies among different groups, with large-scale producers associating them with poverty and viewing agricultural expansion as progress, while farmers and indigenous communities consider forests their homes and their lives.
The impacts of deforestation extend beyond the immediate loss of trees and the displacement of communities. Deforestation amplifies climate change by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing pressure on plant and animal species. It also exacerbates droughts and extreme rainfall, making it more challenging for small-scale farmers to grow crops and maintain their traditional ways of life.
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Climate change
South America is facing severe impacts from climate change. The rise in temperatures has been more pronounced in some regions, with a parallel increase in droughts and weather conditions associated with enhanced fire risk. The northern Amazon region has seen a threefold increase in the number of days per year with extreme fire weather conditions.
The continent, home to the world's second-largest river and the longest mountain range, is experiencing a range of environmental issues due to climate change. These include hydrometeorological issues, widespread desertification, rampant deforestation, and biodiversity loss. Tropical storms originating in the Atlantic and Pacific have devastated parts of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, with inland torrential rains causing greater devastation.
The impacts of climate change on human health in South America are significant. Deaths related to heat in the region increased by 160% between 2017 and 2021 compared to the period from 2000 to 2004. Wildfires, which have increased due to higher temperatures and reduced rainfall, can cause direct harm or death through smoke inhalation and increase the long-term risk of all types of cancer. The elderly in countries like Venezuela are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, and the expansion of infectious diseases like dengue poses further risks.
Deforestation is another critical issue in South America, with the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and the Gran Chaco forest in Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia experiencing significant forest loss. Deforestation amplifies climate change by releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and contributes to biodiversity loss.
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Industrial and automobile emissions
South America is home to five megacities: Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Lima, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. Each of these cities has a population of over 10 million people, and they are major contributors to the region's air pollution. Industrial and automobile emissions have been the leading causes of air quality deterioration in cities since the beginning of the 20th century.
Industrial emissions have long polluted the Andean atmosphere. In fact, atmospheric emissions of toxic trace elements in South America began to have a widespread environmental impact around AD 1540, about 240 years before the Industrial Revolution, when colonial metallurgy began to pollute the air. The use of coal-burning steam locomotives at the beginning of the 20th century also contributed to regional pollution.
Today, South America faces unique challenges in carbon mitigation due to its distinct socioeconomic, technological, and institutional backgrounds. Brazil, for instance, was the top carbon emitter in the region from 2010 to 2020, with Chile experiencing the most significant increase in emissions. Paraguay recorded the highest emission growth rate. Overall emissions in the region peaked in 2014 at 1092.3 Mt, driven by emissions from oil consumption and the transport and electricity sectors.
The transport sector, heavily influenced by road traffic emissions, is a significant contributor to air pollution in South America's megacities. In fact, in some locations, traffic emissions may be even more important than industrial ones. Vehicular pollution is a major source of gases such as CO, CO2, NOx, and SO2. Despite the phasing out of leaded gasoline, Pb continues to be one of the highest atmospheric emission rates due to automobile pollution.
Water pollution is another significant issue in South America. Major water bodies on the continent, such as the Medellin River in Colombia, Guanabara Bay in Brazil, and Argentina's Riachuelo River, are continually subjected to large-scale industrial and anthropogenic pollution, which contaminates water sources and makes them unsafe for use and consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
Industrial and automobile emissions have been the main causes of air quality deterioration in South American cities since the 20th century.
Atmospheric pollution is the single largest environmental risk to human health, causing about 7 million deaths per year. In South America, approximately 45,000 premature deaths occur annually due to air pollution.
A large portion of water in South America is untreated and unsafe for human consumption and use. Major water bodies in the continent, such as the Medellin River in Colombia, Guanabara Bay in Brazil, and Argentina's Riachuelo River, are subjected to large-scale industrial and anthropogenic pollution.
Water scarcity, considered a crisis in companion with droughts, has troubled parts of Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Colombia. The intense mega-drought in Chile has led to the loss of livelihoods and biodiversity and has contributed to water and food insecurity across the country.
