The satellite will measure air toxicity would be able to monitor Chile.

The original article by Richard García appeared in El Mercurio and the below summary is translated by Eliette Angel, communications coordinator, UC Davis Chile Life Sciences Innovation Center.

"The satellite project seeks to cover most of the planet. The expert, Anthony Wexler who will be in charge of the analysis of data for the USA, says that in order to form part of this project, Chile needs to install stations on the ground to corroborate the measurement data. 

“Particle pollution is one of the main causes of death throughout the world. NASA intends to monitor the greatest number of cities possible in order to face this problem.”

As from 2022 Chile could form part of a satellite project which will monitor the concentration, characteristics and toxicity of atmospheric pollution in different parts of the world.

It is the NASA Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) whose aim is not only to deliver scientific data, but also to benefit public health, since it will provide key information about particulate material which, when in high concentrations has been linked to cardiac and respiratory problems.

“Its aim is to help the world’s major cities to face atmospheric pollution,” explains Anthony Wexler, Director of the Air Quality Research Center, at UC Davis to “El Mercurio”. This institution will be responsible for collecting information from 300 monitoring stations which are complementary to the satellite."

Read the full article at El Mercurio's website.