Air Pollution in Mexico City Comparing the air

Air Pollution in Mexico City

“Comparing the air of cities to the air of deserts and arid lands is like comparing waters that are befouled and turbid to waters that are fine and pure. In the city, because of the height of its buildings, the narrowness of its streets, and all that pours forth from its inhabitants and their superfluities…the air becomes stagnant, turbid, thick, misty, and foggy…If there is no choice in this matter, for we have grown up in the cities and have become accustomed to them, you should…select from the cities one of open horizons…endeavor at least to dwell at the outskirts of the city…” MOSES MAIMONIDES (1135 -1204) 1. What is Maimonides saying about pollution in cities? 2. What does Maimonides believe to be true about living in a polluted city? 3. Thinking about what time period Maimonides was writing in, what comparisons/contrasts can you make about levels of pollution in cities then vs. today?

History of Mexico City �Mexico City was built upon the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlán, in the center of Lake Texcoco. �The lake was eventually drained so that the city could grow, and now Mexico City sits at the bottom of the former lake basin, surrounded by mountains.

Physical Geography and Air Pollution �Mexico City is the capital of Mexico, and the total population is approximately 8. 9 million � Cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles produce carbon emissions which pollute the air �Mexico City depends primarily on manufacturing and industry, and has fewer regulations for pollution than other cities similar in size � This leads to more emissions from factories �The surrounding mountains of Mexico City create the perfect “bowl shape” to trap in the air pollution generated by factories and vehicle emissions

Mountains trap factory and vehicle emissions in the basin