Relationship between pollution levels and poverty: regions of Antofagasta, Valparaiso and Biobio, Chile

Abstract

The regions of Antofagasta, Valparaíso and Biobío present a series of environmental problems. Inhabitants perceive that air pollution, water pollution and rubbish contamination contribute to the deterioration of the quality of life in their territories. Based on air pollution information obtained from monitoring stations of the National Air Quality Information System (SINCA), meteorological information obtained from the Meteorological Directorate of Chile, and socioeconomic information on income poverty level, multidimensional poverty level, and energy poverty level, a data panel was constructed with information from 2017 to 2021 with daily information at the commune level. Three ordinary least squares regression models were estimated to determine the relationship between the socioeconomic variables (income poverty, multidimensional poverty and fuel poverty) and each of the pollutants studied. The results show that, in general, there is a positive and significant relationship between the level of income poverty, multidimensional poverty and fuel poverty. The main objective of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between pollution and the variables of income poverty, multidimensional poverty and fuel poverty, in order to build evidence that will allow the creation of environmental public policies in the future.