During December and so far in January, there have been constant exceedances of pollutants in the air, a prolonged situation that is already reflected in an increase in allergies and respiratory conditions, warns a UACJ specialist.
Ciudad Juárez is going through a prolonged period of poor air quality that has begun to directly impact the health of the population, with an increase in allergies and respiratory diseases, derived from constant exposure to atmospheric pollutants.
Dr. Adrián Vázquez, coordinator of the Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Green Technologies (CECATEV) of the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez, explained that throughout the month of December, daily exceedances of polluting particles were recorded, exceeding the limits established by the Ministry of Health to consider clean air.
These conditions have not been sporadic. On the contrary, they have been reinforced by layers of atmospheric stability, a typical winter phenomenon that prevents the dispersion of pollutants and causes them to become trapped near the surface.
“These creams are what we wake up with in the morning. They work like a lid that keeps the contaminants concentrated at ground level,” explained the specialist.
Dust and vehicle emissions, a harmful combination
Although suspended dust is the most visible pollutant, Vázquez warned that other highly irritating compounds are also present in the city’s atmosphere, such as nitrogen oxides, generated mainly by the emissions of the thousands of vehicles that circulate daily in Ciudad Juárez.
“These pollutants are not always seen, but they are very aggressive. They cause eye irritation, trigger allergies and aggravate respiratory problems, especially in vulnerable people,” he said.
The combination of dust, polluting gases and adverse weather conditions has led to recurrent discomfort, medical consultations for allergies and the worsening of pre-existing respiratory diseases.
January maintains the same risk pattern
Far from improving, January has started with the same trend of exceedances in suspended particles, which indicates that the population continues to be exposed to poor quality air for prolonged periods.
Given this scenario, the researcher recommended reducing outdoor activities when adverse conditions are recorded, particularly during the mornings and evenings, as well as taking extreme precautions in older children and people with respiratory conditions.
As long as there are no atmospheric changes that allow greater dispersion of pollutants, Ciudad Juárez could continue to face persistent episodes of poor air quality, with cumulative effects on public health.
