The 2023 ozone season in the Valley of Mexico is expected to have high concentrations of air pollution, which may result in more environmental contingencies.
Despite the fact that the historical trend in maximum ozone concentrations had been decreasing in previous years, programs to reduce polluting emissions and verify successful cars are no longer enough.
During a remote press conference on ozone pollution and the start of the 2023 season, researcher Óscar Peralta Rosales explained that an environmental contingency consists of applying restrictive measures to reduce emissions and try to reduce ozone concentrations and particulate matter in the atmosphere.
In the last three years, more contingencies have been registered, especially in the southwestern zone of the Valley of Mexico, in the evening, between 3 and 5 in the afternoon, when “all the ingredients are in place” for rapid ozone formation.
The ozone season develops under certain atmospheric conditionssuch as high temperatures that are recorded especially in the months of April and May in the afternoon, scarce rain, and less water vapor and cloudiness, which allows more ultraviolet radiation that detonates in the formation of this pollutant.
The speed and direction of the winds also influences; its circulation in the plain of the Valley of Mexico is complex, but although there are different patterns during the day and night, there is a predominant one from north to south, but in the months where ozone concentrations are recorded they blow from the southeast to the north.
The ozone formation in the lower tropospherewhich is where we are, occurs from two precursors: nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, plus solar radiation.
Of these, only the first are regulated and systematically measured by the Ministry of the Environment through the Automatic Atmospheric Monitoring Network.
Hence the importance of knowing the concentrations and different species that make up the volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere.
The primary pollutants are emitted directly, such as particles, carbon monoxide and the volatile organic compounds themselves, while the secondary ones are formed from gases emitted into the atmosphere, which react and form other species, such as ozone. .
One of the ozone precursors is nitrogen oxidea compound that is emitted in motor vehicles (80 percent by private cars; seven percent by public transport, and 13 percent by cargo vehicles), but also by combustion in industrial furnaces, among others.
The government of Mexico City has made a great effort to replace public transport that uses cleaner technology. Despite the fact that on business days, there are practically the same emissions
Óscar Peralta Rosales pointed out that there are actions that can be taken to reduce polluting emissions and reduce ozone formation, such as checking and maintaining vehicles in good condition, maintaining combustion systems, not using paints or solvents that contain organic compounds. volatile and avoid burning garbage.
In addition, the Ministry of the Environment has a vehicle verification program that is carried out every six months and that establishes the maximum limits of emissions that vehicles can have. There is also the Program for Attention to Atmospheric Environmental Contingencies, which includes measures to reduce the circulation of vehicles, the suspension of activities in industries and the suspension of works.
However, despite the measures implemented, the situation remains worrying, and the 2023 ozone season presents a challenge for the authorities and society in general.
It is necessary to continue working on reducing polluting emissions and raising awareness among the population about the importance of caring for the environment in order to have an adequate quality of life.
So, the 2023 ozone season presents a major challenge for the Valley of Mexico due to the favorable weather conditions for the formation of ozone and the persistent emission of ozone precursors, mainly by motor vehicles.
Although measures have been implemented to reduce polluting emissions and environmental contingencies have been declared, the situation continues to be worrisome and it is necessary to continue working on raising awareness among the population and on the implementation of actions to care for the environment.
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