Define: 

Mexico City is one of the world’s densest cities, with notoriously bad air quality. Beginning in the early 1990s. A haze of pollution hovers over Mexico City’s vast metropolitan region, which is home to nearly 20 million people. On certain days, air pollution obscures the view of the hills and mountains that surround the capital. Half of the year, generally during the colder months, the foul air in the city may be harmful to people’s health. Some people have eye and throat discomfort. The city-funded scientists use radar to measure wind speed 24 hours a day, tracking the movement of microparticles of pollution that may lodge deep into people’s lungs. The World Health Organization has established a restriction for going outside. Mexico city is surrounded by mountains which keeps the pollution from escaping which makes the city’s condition worse. 

Discovery:  

Birds died in large numbers, and people were poisoned with lead, copper, and mercury as a result of the filthy air. Even in the winter, the school day had been moved back to 10 a.m. from 8 a.m. When the temperature falls below freezing, a layer of frozen air forms on top of the pollutants, keeping them in the city. This is referred to as thermal inversion. Some of the most common airborne pollutants include Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, and ozone, which is considered toxic at ground level. The top 4 causes of the air pollution in Mexico City is wildfires, Seasons of extended drought and high temperatures have occurred. As a result, flames broke out. This causes the city’s air quality to deteriorate to the point that the local authority advises residents to stay indoors since the air outdoors is unhealthy to breathe. The 2nd top cause is vehicles that run on flammable fuels. Every day, almost 8 million automobiles travel in the Mexican capital, generating more than 7,000 tons of pollutants. This, in turn, causes pollution. 3rd top cause is Industrial Plant Emissions primary pollutants may cause everything from eye and throat discomfort to global warming. Many primary pollutants undergo a photochemical reaction, which results in secondary pollutants. The 4th top cause is Surrounding Mountains that doesn’t allow Pollutants to Escape which is one of the major issues in Mexico City Because the winds are unable to transport pollution over the surrounding mountains, various pollutants such as carbon monoxide accumulate above the city. 

Deliver: 

Debrief:  

For our project, Hayfaa and I have constructed a machine to clear up air pollution. Specifically, in Mexico City. Inside our machine there are filters that are specifically made for carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. The machine sucks the pollution in and filters out chemicals and bacteria that are in the air, and then sucks through a layer of trees to remove any access carbon dioxide. After the air has been filtered, the fresh air is released back into the environment. During this project things went pretty smoothly, and we had no problems with the functions whatsoever. We learned many things while researching.

Citations: 

Top 4 Causes of air pollution in Mexico city 2022 – Environment Go!