Contaminación atmosférica y vulnerabilidad social en la ciudad de Madrid

Abstract

Air pollution in cities is one of the greatest environmental problems due to its link with human health deterioration. Nevertheless, exposure levels and theirimpact on health are not homogeneous amongst population groups,but modulated by a number of factors. Indeed, different social groups are particularly affected by higher concentrations of air pollutants in their places of residence and their greater vulnerability to them according to their socioeconomic status. The aim of this work is twofold: (i) to find out whether some vulnerable population groups are exposed to higher concentrations of different pollutants (NO2, O3, PM10and PM2.5) in the city ofMadrid from 2017 to 2021; and (ii) to identify the areas where they are located. This research is carried out through different correlation and spatial statistical analyses derived from spatial models of atmospheric air pollutants and socioeconomic databases. The results show the existence of a negative correlation between PM10and PM2.5 concentration levels and income levels. There is also a positive correlation between the greater presence of children and foreigners with PM10levels, between children and O3levels, and between foreigners and NO2levels. The areas with the highest presence of vulnerable groups exposed to highest concentrations of NO2, PM10and PM2.5 are the southern and southeastern districts of the city. Other sectors located in the southernand northern peripheral areas of the city stand out because of the high presence of children exposed to high concentrations of O3.