São Paulo invaded by smoke

Air quality is at rock bottom in São Paulo. Smoke from the intense forest fires in the Amazon has spread across Brazil. Nearly five million km2 have been affected by smoke, or about 60% of the territory, according to estimates by Karla Longo, a researcher at the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe). On Monday, September 9, São Paulo, the largest city in Latin America, topped the ranking of the most polluted major cities in the world.

The level of fine particles reached 69 micrograms per cubic meter, almost 14 times higher than the limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). “It becomes difficult to breathe, to sleep, so everything becomes complicated,” explains Maicon Santos, a resident of São Paulo. In many Brazilian cities, health authorities have reported a sharp increase in cases of people suffering from respiratory problems, asthma attacks, pneumonia or sinusitis.