Air quality in Venustiano Carranza

What is the current level of air pollution in Venustiano Carranza?

Venustiano Carranza is one of the 16 boroughs of Mexico City. It extends from the city centre as far as the Eastern edge of Mexico City. According to a recent survey, Venustiano Carranza had an estimated population of approximately 431,000 people.

At the beginning of 2022, Venustiano Carranza was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 52. This United States Air Quality Index number is calculated using the levels of six of the most prolific air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and both sizes of particulate matter, which are PM2.5 and PM10. It can then be used as the metric when comparing air quality in other cities around the world. If data is unavailable for all 6 pollutants, a figure can still be calculated by using what figures there are. The only pollutant measured in Venustiano Carranza was PM2.5 which was 13.1 µg/m³.

This level of PM2.5 is just over the recommended safe level of 10 µg/m³ as suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as being an acceptable level. Although no amount of air pollution is considered to be safe.

When air pollution is from this “Moderate” bracket the given advice would be to remain indoors as much as possible, closing doors and windows to prevent the ingress of more polluted air. Those who are more sensitive to poor quality air should avoid venturing outside until it improves. If this is unavoidable, then a good quality face mask should be worn at all times. All types of outdoor exercise should be avoided until the air quality improves. There is a downloadable app from AirVisual.com which is suitable for all operating systems and gives the latest information regarding air quality in real-time.

Does the level of air pollution vary much throughout the year in Venustiano Carranza?

Air pollution is very volatile as it can be affected by many external influences, so it can change rapidly. Looking at the 2020 figures published by IQAir.com, it can be seen that Venustiano Carranza experienced “Moderate” air quality for eleven months of the year. For some reason, the figures for December are unavailable. The cleanest month was July with a figure of 15.7 µg/m³, the dirtiest was November with a 27.3 µg/m³ reading. To fall into this “Moderate” category, readings must be between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. These are internationally recognised metrics.

There were no records kept regarding air pollution before 2020 when a figure of 21.1 µg/m³ was recorded. This figure was to be expected because it may have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as many vehicles were no longer in daily use because the offices were closed, in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus. Many factories and non-essential production units were also required to close which removed their emissions from the atmosphere, albeit on a temporary basis. Worldwide, cities reported a much better quality of air due to the general lack of traffic pollution in city centres due to the pandemic.

Is there a main source of polluted air in Venustiano Carranza?

In Mexico City there are almost 31,000 industrial establishments and almost 34,000 in the State of Mexico. Of the total, it has been proven that 47 per cent (30,881) are generators of polluting and greenhouse gas emissions, explains the emissions inventory.

One of the most significant pollutants is volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is generated by private cars, the chemical industry, the incomplete combustion of LP gas and the use of solvents, which means 30 per cent of the almost 633,000 tons of VOCs generated in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico.

What can be done to improve air quality in Venustiano Carranza?

The Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis calls on the population to continue participating in the reduction of polluting emissions into the atmosphere," said the statement from the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis (CAMe), for which it urged citizens to avoid any activity that causes pollution to the environment.

Due to the fact that air quality is steadily getting worse, recently, the local authorities issued the following recommendations;

• Avoid car use during peak hours; instead use public transport, cycle or walk.
• Avoid burning waste, garbage or tyres, as they are highly polluting.
• Apply the three R's: reduce, reuse and recycle.
• Take care of parks, trees and protected natural areas, because they are the lungs of the state.
• Avoid the use of aerosols containing greenhouse gases.
• Put out fires well and take the necessary measures to prevent forest fires.
• Do not use fireworks or pyrotechnics.
• Service the car regularly; a car in good condition pollutes less and will save gasoline.
• Verify the vehicle; if it is for private use, do it once a year according to the number plate. If it is an intensive use vehicle, it must be verified twice a year; if it is a public transport vehicle, it must be verified three times a year.

What are the detrimental effects of breathing polluted air?

The air we breathe is not clean. Ambient air contains invisible and visible particles, chemicals, and bacteria, among others. Our bodies have adapted to deal with some of these pollutants: our anatomy, from the nose and mouth to the various passageways that air passes through to reach the inner part of the lungs – where oxygen exchange and removal of carbon dioxide – acts as a mechanical air filter. Despite this, various particles and gases that makeup what we call "air pollution" will reach the inner part of the lungs.

On its way from the nose to the lungs, part of this polluted air will be trapped in different obstacles, such as the hairs in the nose or the bifurcation of the bronchi, but the rest will reach the lung cells. There, irritation will occur, since they are foreign bodies for our body, and our immune system will fight them, generating pulmonary inflammation that can be harmful.

We know that some of these polluted air particles pass through the tiny holes in the barrier that are our lungs, making their way through the bloodstream to other organs. Sometimes they can be stopped by other filters – like our kidneys, heart, brain and bones – or our immune system can attack these particles and store them in immune cells. But recently, we have observed that these polluted air particles can also reach the placenta and the foetus, and even our brain.