Researchers from the Institute of Astronomy and Meteorology (IAM) at the University of Guadalajara (UdeG), in collaboration with the Center for Strategic Studies for Development, conducted an analysis on pollution levels in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone (ZMG). Using information from eight meteorological stations distributed throughout the city, it was found that the maximum concentrations of air pollutants exceed NOM, EPA, and World Health Organization standards.
According to Mario Enrique García, a researcher at IAM, it was indicated that environmental regulations are exceeded on average 150 days a year in the ZMG. This pollution not only affects human health but also has negative consequences for the environment by contributing to the generation of greenhouse gases, acid rain, and other harmful atmospheric impacts.
The main pollutants identified in the ZMG are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and PM10 particles. Activities such as vehicular traffic, industrial activity, fossil fuel use, deforestation, agricultural burning, brickmaking, and wildfires are among the causes of this situation.
The study warns that if effective public policies to improve air quality are not implemented, it is expected that high pollution levels will be reported daily in the ZMG over the coming decades. Factors such as thermal inversions and winds play a crucial role in the dispersion and concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere.
Hermes Ulises Ramírez, a researcher at IAM, has presented a decalog with possible scenarios to mitigate climate change in Jalisco. Among the projections is a significant increase in temperature, decreased rainfall, extreme droughts, reduced precipitation speed, and soil moisture. There are also warnings about risks to vulnerable urban areas and the possible extinction of animal and plant species due to rising temperatures.
To counteract these impacts, a transition to clean and renewable energies is suggested, as well as the implementation of public policies that regulate urban growth. The situation emphasizes the need for immediate action to protect the environment and the health of the population in the long term.
