The Valley of Mexico activates the contingency due to high ozone concentration

The good weather season comes hand in hand with the activation of the second contingency of the year. The Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis (CaMe) has activated the phase of the environmental contingency due to high ozone concentration in the metropolitan area of ​​the Valley of Mexico.

As of 5:00 p.m., maximum ozone concentrations of 157 parts per billion (ppb) have been recorded at the Tlanepantla station, located in the municipality of Tlanepantla de Baz, State of Mexico. The measure seeks to reduce the population's exposure to polluted air, minimize health risks and limit the emission of pollutants.

A high pressure system over the eastern part of the Valley of Mexico caused light winds of variable intensity and direction, which combined with intense solar radiation, has favored the accumulation of ozone precursors for the formation of the pollutant. CaMe activates the contingency every year when the ozone concentration exceeds 150 parts per billion (ppb) , a figure that exceeds the 90 ppb allowed by Mexican regulations and triples the 51 ppb stipulated by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Authorities recommend that people avoid exposure to pollution peaks between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., especially for children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with respiratory illnesses. It is also recommended not to smoke indoors and not to engage in outdoor activities during the hours of highest particle concentration.

Which cars are not on the road?

This Thursday, February 27, private vehicles with verification hologram 2, those with verification hologram 1, the last digit of which is 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 0, must suspend circulation. Private vehicles with verification holograms 00 and 0, green stickers, and license plates ending in 1 and 2. Units that do not have a verification hologram, such as old vehicles, demonstration or transfer vehicles, new vehicles, those with a tourist pass, foreign license plates, or plates consisting of letters, are subject to the same restriction as vehicles that have a hologram.

Air pollution in the Valley of Mexico has become a risk for its inhabitants and causes severe respiratory and chronic problems in the long term. Air pollution is responsible for 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide each year. In addition to the above, poor air quality causes serious respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and some recent studies even link it to the onset of Alzheimer's in the long term.