Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
resolved, despite the fact that there has been a general decrease in the presence of
certain pollutants in the atmosphere. Although background pollution tends to be
uniform over a large area, hot spots tend to be more localized and can exist next to
factories or main roads. Certain maps show these spatial variations, from these maps
it is possible to identify the more polluted areas, and it is also possible to see that
people living in these zones are exposed more to risk pollution.
hot spots
dense urban
area
factory
urban background area
regional background area
Figure 6.4.
The regional identification of the sources of
atmospheric pollution (see color section)
It is not enough to produce a simple report on the objectification and
identification of inequalities that exist as far as atmospheric pollution is concerned.
It is also necessary to provide evidence that remediation elements exist. It is not
possible to identify spatial variations in air quality without having any additional
information available. Atmospheric pollution is defined by the impacts that it has on
people, vegetation, and on the planet as a whole. In order to overcome these impacts
it is necessary to understand what they are and why they occur. How can tools that
have been developed to help provide a better understanding of, and overcome the
risks associated with pollution, be seen as an aid? The world of geography, which is
also known as interface science, plays an important role in trying to contribute to
this knowledge provide a solution to this question.
6.4.1.3.
Difficulties associated with the mapping of health risks
Mapping health risks depends on the exact amount of pollution that a population
has been exposed to. The idea of exposure to pollution, especially as far as maps
and GIS are concerned raises several questions, and in particular, questions relating
to the idea of mobility, because mobility is a characteristic associated with urban
populations, whilst maps provide information about the area in which people live.
Exposure levels vary greatly depending on different reasons including: the mobility
