During a series of conferences organized by the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change, the scientific community warned about the high presence of ammonia in the air of Mexico City.
Research carried out by scientists from UNAM showed that In the last ten years there has been a constant and significant increase in ammonia levels.
Ammonia is a precursor of polluting particles that is made up of one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms. Its production occurs mainly as a consequence of the use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers for food production and on farms where chickens, pigs or cattle are raised.
Being part of the acid rain, affects air quality, climate and biodiversity by acidifying water, air, and soil.
Photo: Cuartoscuro
Jennifer Murphy, a researcher at the University of Toronto, highlighted in a conference that when talking about polluting emissions, in addition to oxygen dioxide or ozone, ammonia has also been reported as part of acid rain.
The records of the Secretariat of the Environment of Mexico City indicate that in 2016 1.39 million tons of criteria pollutants were emitted (those that must be monitored), of which 47,717 tons are of ammonia.
The scientific community highlighted the need to investigate ammonia levels at the local and national levels to understand if the increase is linked only to emissions or changes in particulates, as well as their long-term impacts.
“In Mexico City it seems that there is too much” and it is not what we would like to reduce environmental pollution, but there is justification for the acidification of the water and the acidification of the soil, added the Canadian specialist.
Reference-aristeguinoticias.com
