SUSPENDED PARTICLES IN ATMOSPHERE AND RESPIRATORY HEALTH-PROBLEMS AT LA-PAZ CITY, BAJA-CALIFORNIA-SUR, MEXICO

During the second week of October, November and December 1993, we samp led the air in the search for Total Suspended Particles (TSP) at four points of La Pat, a mexican medium sized city where the human respirat ory problems are the main cause of mortality. Each sampling station wa s monitored, during each day, for a 24 hrs period. TSP were collected on glass fiber filters using a 0.45 mu m pore, and using a high-volume sampler (HAWP 025 00). Most the values found for every sampling stati on during the three months were superior to those reported as the Mexi can official norm for maximum averages during 24 hrs (260 mu g/m(3)). From the analyzed data it is possible to suggest that the acute respir atory health problems of La Paz inhabitants are produced by the soil d ust.