Critical air pollution in the Valley of Mexico

Mexico, May 2 (Prensa Latina) The people who are today in the Valley of Mexico and have respiratory or heart ailments may have decreased lung function or asthma attacks by poor air quality.

Atmospheric Monitoring System of the City of Mexico (Simat) predicts that between 14:00 and 17:00 local time on Monday will occur more pollution for the content of ozone and suspended particles in urban air in the capital and surrounding areas.

More than 30.56 million motor vehicles (cars, public transport and freight) circulating in the country, according to updated information from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), of which about 4.3 million move only in the District Federal.

Looking at the forecast Simat, in the early morning air quality is good and then begins pollution caused mainly by the combustion gases from motor vehicles, requiring scholars.

The pollution caused by vehicular traffic may cause the onset of childhood asthma and other respiratory diseases, reduced lung function and cardiovascular disease, said an investigation of the Institute of Health Effects (HEI) of the United States, conducted in several countries.

The problem of air quality in Mexico may not be reversed unless the government establish deeper and stronger laws on emissions, warned analysts during the First Air Quality Forum, held this Saturday.

"The problem is that there are cars with catalytic converters that do not work, and still do not have sufficient incentives to import cars with engines powered by alternative technologies," said Rodolfo Lacy, Mario Molina Center, dedicated to energy studies and environment.

The primary contaminants expelled by the engines as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, fuel vapors and solvents, lead and particulate matter, once in the air react with other compounds and elements are equal to or greater toxicity, argues Simat.

The wind, temperature variations, the amount of solar radiation and rainfall are the main meteorological factors that influence and determine the distribution, dispersal and spatial concentration of these harmful elements.