Air Pollution:Concerns & EffortsCase Studies: Distrito Federal, Mexico, D.F

Gabriella PerezFall 3015

SUST 410Ramapo College of New Jersey

Air pollution is the introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals,

particulates, and biological matter that cause harm to humans, other

living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment.

Air pollutants - airborne substances that occur in concentrations high enough to threaten the health of

people and animals, to harm vegetation and structures, or to toxify

a given environment (See Ahrens, 2000).

Air Pollution is measured by the amount in 'concentration'.

What is Air Pollution?

The air that makes up our atmosphere is almost entirely

made up of two gases (78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen), with a few other gases (such as

carbon dioxide and argon) in smaller quantities.

Sources of Air PollutionNatural Sources:wind picking up dust suspended Particles volcanic eruptions dust, ash, gases like SO2, CO2forest fires: smoke, ash, unburned hydrocarbons, CO2Vegetation: VOCs, pollenOcean Waves: salt particles

Anthropocentric Sources:industryMills, power plant, refineriesmanufacturingparticulate matter, SOx, NOx, ashtransportationopen burning of refuseCO, NOx, VOCs, particulate matterforest fires smoke, ash, CO2

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six common air pollutants. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA establishes air quality standards to protect public health and the environment. EPA

has set national air quality standards for six common air pollutants. (See http://www3.epa.gov/airquality/urbanair/)

Of the six pollutants, particle pollution and ground-level ozone are the most widespread health

threats. EPA calls these pollutants "criteria" air pollutants because it regulates

them by developing human health-based and/or environmentally-based criteria (science-based

guidelines) for setting permissible levels. The set of limits based on human health is called primary

standards.

The Big 6

Carbon Monoxide (CO)created by incomplete combustion(especially bad with older cars)generates headaches, drowsiness, fatigue, can result in deathGround-level Ozone (O3)Lead (Pb)Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx, NO)emitted directly by autos, industryParticulate Matter (PM)dust, ash, salt particlesbad for your lungsSulfur Dioxide (SO2) Sulfur Oxides (SOx)produced largely through coal burningresponsible for acid rain

requires clear, sunny skies (since L.A. photochemical smog requires sunlight for at one of the key chemical reactions).NOx + ROG + sunlight --> O3 + NO2ROG are reactive organic gases from unburned gasolineNOx are oxides of nitrogenPrimary pollutants in LA smog:

CO - carbon monoxideNO - nitric oxideROG - reactive organic gases (unburned gasoline)These are mainly direct combustion products from gasoline- or diesel-burning internal combustion engines.There is a significant source of ROGs from stationary industries and small businesses.

examples include:sulfuric acid H2SO4

can cause respiratory problemsnitrogen dioxide NO2

gives air a brownish coloration

photochemical smog

First & Secondary Pollutants Form in the atmosphere through chemical &photochemical reactions from the primary

pollutants

See http://apollo.lsc.vsc.edu/classes/met130/notes/chapter18/index.html

Effects of Air Pollution

Acid RainEutrophicationHaze/SmogNegative Effects on WildlifeCrop and Forest DamageOzone DepletionGlobal Climate Change

Photo from The Week: http://theweek.com/articles/586863/brief-history-air-pollution

Air Pollution in Mexico City

"Mexico City is an omen, that jammed city of toxic air and leafless trees may be the

first to know asphyxiation by progress. One of the world's oldest civilizations suffers mankind's newest affliction. Mexico City

warns the rest of the species of all that has gone wrong with modernity's promised

millennium of happiness." - Carlos Fuentes, 1992

http://articles.latimes.com/1989-04-23/books/bk-1926_1_mexico-city-

breathing-fecal-dust-carlos-fuentes

Mexico City Air Pollution History

In 1992, the United Nations described Mexico City's air as the most polluted on the planet.

● Many factors have contributed to this situation: industrial growth, a population boom (from three million in 1950 to some 20 million today), and the proliferation of vehicles. More than 3.5 million vehicles — 30% of them more than 20 years old — now ply the city streets.

●

● Pollution since the early 1990s has dropped dramatically according to the Mexico government studies.

http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Resources/Publications/Pages/ArticleDetails.aspx?PublicationID=740

Sources & Issues

● Added emissions tests● Reduction of outdated

cars

Transportation – automobiles account for about 90% of pollution

Personal Vehicles● Collectivos (buses)● Factories● Homes● Slum areas

Geographical ConcernsGeography is partly responsible for the lack of

dispersion of air pollution in Mexico City. Mexico City is set in a valley surrounded by mountains. Located in the crater of an extinct volcano, Mexico City is about 2,240

metres above sea level.

Depending on the pressure of the air, the dry air from the upper layer moves downwards on the lower layer creating a condition known as

Thermal InversionThis acts like a stopper, trapping pollution and

provoking a reduction in visibility. The trapped air pollution is exposed to solar radiation making visibility difficult. The

photochemical transformation of the pollution stimulates production of ozone and

fine particles. (See http://www.mexicocityvibes.com/air-pollution-in-mexico-city/)

This is the same photochemical reaction that happens in LA as both of these places

have sunlight for this reaction. Photo from http://www.mexicocityvibes.com/air-pollution-in-mexico-

city/)

Major Pollution Composition & ReductionSULPHUR DIOXIDENITROGEN DIOXIDE

NITRIC OXIDE CARBON MONOXIDE

OZONE

This is a very similar pollution composition

to LA.

(See http://www.mexicocityvibes.com/air-pollution-in-mexico-city/)

Actions

Hoy No Circula (No Drive Days)

Implemented in 1989 during the time of worst air pollution in Mexico City. Based on testing

EcoBici

Bicycle sharing system launched in 2010.

Literature Cited● http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2014/10/coming-up-for-air/● http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3230450/● http://theweek.com/articles/586863/brief-history-air-pollution● http://www3.epa.gov/air/basic.html● http://www3.epa.gov/airquality/urbanair/● http://www.cleanerandgreener.org/resources/air-pollution.html● http://apollo.lsc.vsc.edu/classes/met130/notes/chapter18/index.html● http://www.mexicocityvibes.com/air-pollution-in-mexico-city/● http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Resources/Publications/Pages/ArticleDetails.aspx?PublicationID=740●

● Hester, Ronald E, and Harrison, Roy M, eds. Air Pollution and Health. Cambridge, GBR: The Royal Society of Chemistry, 1998. ● Cheremisinoff, Nicholas P.. Handbook of Air Pollution Prevention and Control. Burlington, MA, USA: Butterworth-Heinemann,

2002.● Brimblecombe, Peter, ed. Effects of Air Pollution on the Built Environment. London, GBR: Imperial College Press, 2003. ● Commission on Life Sciences Staff. Biologic Markers of Air-Pollution Stress and Damage in Forests. Washington, DC, USA:

National Academies Press, 1989. ● Kennedy, Donald, and Bates, Richard R., eds. Air Pollution, the Automobile, and Public Health. Washington, DC, USA: National

Academies Press, 1988. ● McGranahan, Gordon, and Murray, Frank, eds. Air Pollution and Health in Rapidly Developing Countries. Toronto, ON, CAN:

Earthscan Canada, 2003. ● Committee on Geosciences, Environment and Resourcs S, and National Research Council Staff. Rethinking the Ozone

Problem in Urban and Regional Air Pollution. Washington, DC, USA: National Academies Press, 1992. ● Bryner, Gary, and Duffy, Robert J.. Integrating Climate, Energy, and Air Pollution Policies. Cambridge, MA, USA: MIT Press,

2012. ● Gonzalez, George A.. SUNY series in Global Environmental Policy : Politics of Air Pollution : Urban Growth, Ecological

Modernization, and Symbolic Inclusion. Ithaca, NY, USA: State University of New York Press, 2005.● Ahrens, C D. Meteorology Today: An Introduction to Weather, Climate, and the Environment. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole

Pub, 2000. Print