Written by Tom Greiner.

In Mexico City, the capitol of Mexico, air pollution is a growing problem that affects the 20 million people who inhabit it and must be resolved (Encyclopedia of the Nations 2009).

Densely populated Mexico City contributes 30% of Mexico’s industrial emissions, in the form of mostly sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. Over 3 million automobiles emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every day. Mexico City is surrounded by mountains that rise 1000 meters (3,280 feet) above the valley floor. The pollution emitted from the city becomes trapped above the city, locked in by the mountains (Yip 2002).

Air pollution in Mexico City raises health concerns for all who live there, especially children. 7.8% of children in Mexico City suffer from lung complications such as asthma and lung inflammation, which often lead to chronic pulmonary disease later in life (Calderon-Garciduenas 2006). The toxins in Mexico City’s air not only harm lungs, but the nervous system. Those exposed to industrial air pollution are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease (Calderon-Garciduenas 2008).

The toxic air quality of Mexico City must be cleaned. Enacting emissions laws and regulations for industry and automobiles can keep up to 31000 tons (28,122,726 kg) of nitrogen oxide between 2006 and 2010. Installing exhaust emissions control systems on old automobiles as well as manufacturing new, fuel efficient vehicles with emission reducing devices (Schifter 2006).

The air pollution in Mexico City has become so severe that it is creating noticeable health issues in the large population that lives there and must be dealt with before air quality continues to deteriorate.




Want to Learn More?

Calderon-Garciduenas, Lilian. 2006. Lung Radiology and Pulmonary Function of Children Chronically Exposed to Air Pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=7&hid=4&sid=cd24713a-2696-41df-a553-f9b961d1c9ab%40sessionmgr11

Calderon-Garciduenas, Lilian. 2008. Long-term air pollution exposure is associated with neuroinflammation, an altered innate immune response, disruption of the blood- brain barrier, ultrafine particulate deposition, and accumulation of amyloid beta-42 and alpha-synuclein in children and young adults. Toxicological Pathology: http://csaweb111v.csa.com/ids70/view_record.php?id=2&recnum=3&log=from_res&SID=nj5d0scirhf4jlkj9hk9dtkvs5&mark_id=search%3A2%3A0%2C0%2C25

Encyclopedia of the Nations. 2009. Mexico. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies /Americas/Mexico.html

Muller, Clive. 2002. Mexico City Project: http://lpas.epfl.ch/MOD/study/Mexico/mexico.en.html

Schifter, I. 2006. Assessment of New Vehicles Emissions Certification Standards in the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=10&hid=4&sid=cd24713a-2696-41df-a553-f9b961d1c9ab%40sessionmgr11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=8gh&AN=20467661

Yip, Maricela. 2002. Air Pollution in Mexico City. http://www.sbg.ac.at/ipk/avstudio/pierofun/mexico/air.htm#VOC

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This page was created from an environmental education writing project generated in the Fall 2009 Bio245 Conservation Biology class. Content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Gustavus Adolphus College.

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