Air quality in Acolman

What is the current level of air pollution in Acolman de Nezahualcóyotl?

Acolman de Nezahualcóyotl is a town and municipality located in the northern part of the State of Mexico. According to a census conducted in 2010, Acolman had an estimated population of 137,000 people.

Towards the end of 2021, Acolman was going through a period of Air quality that was classified as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” with a US AQI reading of 105. 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. In the case for Acolman there were four of the main pollutants measured. These were; PM2.5 - 37 µg/m³, PM10 - 60 µg/m³, ozone (O₃) - 0 µg/m³ and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) - 0 µg/m³.

When the level of air pollution is high enough to be classified as “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” the given advice would be to remain indoors as much as possible and operate an air purifier if one is available. Be sure it is set to recycle the existing air and not import more dirty air from outside. Those of a more sensitive disposition should avoid venturing outside if at all possible until the air quality improves. If this is unavoidable, then a good quality mask should be worn at all times. For up-to-date information about air quality, there is an app available from AirVisual.com which is downloadable for all mobile devices. This shows the air quality in real-time.

Does the level of air pollution remain the same throughout the year in Acolman de Nezahualcóyotl?

Air quality can be very volatile as it can easily be affected by so many variables. Looking back at the figures for 2020, published by IQAir.com, it can be seen that for the full twelve months, the air quality was classed as being “Moderate” with figures ranging between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³.

Figures for air pollution were first held in 2017 when the recorded figure was 20.4 µg/m³, this improved the following year to 19.7 µg/m³, but slipped back in 2019 to 20.5 µg/m³. A slight improvement was noted in 2020 when the figure released was 18.8 µg/m³, however, this may not be a true indication of reality because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many vehicles were no longer in daily use because offices were closed and staff were no longer encouraged to commute on a daily basis, 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.

Is there a main source of this air pollution in Acolman de Nezahualcóyotl?

The most common type of environmental pollution is air pollution. It happens that gases normally found in the air increase in concentrations due to human activity. This gas, usually carbon, alters the composition of the air causing an imbalance. "Air pollution in many large cities appears in the form of urban smog or the presence of fine particles in the environment." As with any major city, the sheer number of vehicles on the roads are thought to be the main source of air pollution. Many of these vehicles are over 15 years old and therefore lack the latest technology which modern cars have to reduce their emissions.

Can anything be done to improve air quality in Acolman de Nezahualcóyotl?

Industries and motor vehicles that use fuels generate pollutants whose emission causes deterioration in the quality of the air, which makes it necessary to improve the quality of the fuels, that of the combustion processes and, where appropriate, that of the control equipment.

In order to address the country's pollution problems, it is necessary to improve the quality of fuels, particularly with regard to their sulphur content, in order to include the most advanced emission control systems in vehicles.

What are the health impacts of breathing dirty air in Acolman de Nezahualcóyotl?

Every year, exposure to air pollution is estimated to cause 7 million premature deaths and result in the loss of millions more healthy years of life. In children, this could include reduced lung growth and function, respiratory infections and aggravated asthma. In adults, ischaemic heart disease and stroke are the most common causes of premature death attributable to outdoor air pollution, and evidence is also emerging of other effects such as diabetes and neurodegenerative conditions. This puts the burden of disease attributable to air pollution on a par with other major global health risks such as unhealthy diet and tobacco smoking.

WHO’s new guidelines recommend air quality levels for 6 pollutants, where evidence has advanced the most on health effects from exposure. When action is taken on these so-called classical pollutants – particulate matter (PM), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO), it also has an impact on other damaging pollutants.

Ozone (O₃) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) have received special attention because of the detrimental health effects they pose to exposed populations and because they are the two criteria pollutants whose concentrations have remained elevated over time in Acolman. Acute and chronic exposures to these pollutants are associated with increased mortality caused by cardiovascular and respiratory disease and increased morbidity from cardiovascular and respiratory disease, certain types of cancer, and reproductive, developmental and neurological effects.

Ground-level ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) react under the influence of the sun's ultraviolet rays. The primary source of VOCs and NOx is mobile sources, including cars, lorries, buses, construction equipment and agricultural equipment. Ground-level ozone reaches its highest level during the afternoon and early evening hours. High levels occur most often during the summer months when the sun is hotter. It is a strong irritant that can cause constriction of the airways, forcing the respiratory system to work harder in order to provide oxygen.