Respiratory Illnesses Increasing as Smog Covers Mexico City

Heavy smog in the Mexican capital, trapped by an inversion layer, has caused a rash of respiratory ailments among the population, a city health expert says.

“The latest statistics from city hospitals and clinics show a sharp increase in the number of (respiratory) illnesses in comparison with previous winters,” Dr. Roberto Castanon, director of medical services for the Federal District, was quoted Sunday as saying.

“We must pay greater attention to the pollution problem. Citizens and government officials must be conscious of the problems thermal inversions cause,” Castanon was quoted as saying by the News, an English-language newspaper.

Metropolitan Mexico City, with a population of 18 million, is considered one of the world’s smoggiest areas, with the government and residents doing virtually nothing to lessen the pollution.

The newspaper said environmental studies show that 2.5 million motor vehicles and 30,000 industries in the metropolitan area are the principal causes of air and noise pollution.