Pilot Study About Inventory of Air Pollutants in a Rural Community of Guanajuato, Mexico using a Low-Cost ATMOTUBE® Monitor

Air pollution is the second cause of death from non-communicable diseases. In Guanajuato, Mexico, the brick industry is the main means of life and source of polluting emissions, with health impacts (short stature, neurological deterioration, cardiorespiratory diseases and asthma). This sector has initiated regulatory changes but now there is no monitoring and its impact on health. As a first pilot phase, the objective was to measure the main air pollutants in a rural community in Guanajuato, Mexico, using a low-cost ATMOTUBE® monitor and describe the area and population group at greatest risk of exposure.  Analytical and longitudinal design from September 2023 to February 2024, with the ATMOTUBE® measurement parameters, VOC, PM1, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, humidity and pressure. During the six months of measurement, the results were VOC 4.15±11.79 ppm, AQS 65.17±30.11, PM1 4.90±18.43 ug/m3. From January to February 2024 was the period of highest concentration of pollutants with a maximum concentration of PM2.5 of 664±12.5μg/m3, PM10 of 650±14.8μg/m3 and low humidity value (34.1 ± 5.2) where they are near two schools. The first inventory of the main air pollutants in a rural community is presented, with children and women being the population at greatest risk. With this data from this pilot phase, it is recommended to begin with surveillance measures as well as health and nutrition indicators.