Mexico city chokes on record air pollution levels
Date: 02-Feb-00
Country: MEXICO
"The situation is grave," Humberto Bravo, an environmental pollution
researcher at Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM), told
Reuters. "The problem of air contamination in the metropolitan area is
critical, both in terms of suspended particles and ozone, and it's
having grave effects on the population."
Last year, the World Resources Institute, funded by the World Health
Organisation, named the city the most dangerous in the world for
children in terms of air pollution, with high levels of sulphur dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide and total suspended particulates (TSPs).
Authorities nevertheless declared 1999 the best year in the last decade
for pollution.
The respite for the metropolitan area's 20 million inhabitants was
short-lived, ending on Monday.
Though pollution levels were dropping on Tuesday, contingency measures
remained in effect after southeast Mexico City on Monday recorded
all-time high levels of suspended particles - mainly carbon-based matter
from fires - said Alejandro Ortiz, spokesman for the city Environment
Secretary.
Factories in the southeastern part of the city were ordered to cut back
operations by 30 to 60 percent and some 154 brickyards around the
capital were shut down.
Outdoor activities at schools and youth sports centres were prohibited,
and parents were encouraged to keep children inside. Health brigades
visited schools and homes to distribute machines to measure air quality.
By midday Tuesday, particulate levels had dropped to 134 points from
Monday's high of 385 points on the overall air quality index known as
the Imeca, Ortiz said. Contingency measures could be lifted later in the
day if air quality continued to improve, he said.
Mexico City - one of the largest metropolitan areas with around 3.5
million vehicles - declares environmental emergencies when the Imeca
reaches 250 points. Many urban areas use 100 points as the danger
threshold.
This week's spike in air pollution levels was blamed on shifting winds
carrying smoke and particles from outlying industrial plants and
agricultural fires into the city.
No serious health problems were reported, Ortiz said. Residents
complained to local newspapers of headaches and respiratory problems and
many also suffered sore eyes and throats.