Santiago - Post Report Question and Answers
Pollution index (Good, Moderate, Unhealthy, or Very Unhealthy)?
Unhealthy, I didn't realize how bad it was until I took a tour of the city and sat in the open air top of the bus. My lungs hurt for the next 2 days. However, my fiance, who has asthma, visited for 12 days and didn't have any problems. - Jul 2009
Quite unhealthy - I have given up running outside, especially during the winter months. For the first time in my life, my lungs feel weighted down and I will occasionally wheeze (I do not, and have never, smoked either) after running outside in Santiago. - Apr 2009
Moderate. Some pollution, but the Capital (Santo Domingo) is much worse. Trade wind breezes that blow into the Cibao (the valley in which Santiago is located) tend to keep the exhaust fumes from sitting in the valley too long. During the winter months, the air tends to be cooler, clearer and even cleaner. - Sep 2008
Very unhealthy in the winter, I've had some serious problems due to the pollution. The rest of the year isn't too bad. - Jul 2008
