Air quality in the municipalities of La Paz and Los Cabos has deteriorated during 2024, according to data provided by Jacqueline Valenzuela Meza, executive director of the Center for Renewable Energy and Environmental Quality (CERCA), the situation reflects a trend towards levels that exceed quality standards.
With an expanded monitoring network, a comparison was made between both municipalities showing that Los Cabos has presented levels of pollution higher than those of La Paz for several months of the year.
Valenzuela Meza details that in La Paz the concentrations of pollutants are usually moderate, which does not mean that it is an ideal scenario, since it implies that on many days the levels considered “good” are exceeded.
Los Cabos, on the other hand, has had episodes in which pollution concentrations have been two or three times higher than the permitted limit, evidencing the urgent need for measures to improve air quality.
What are the main sources of pollution?
The main sources of pollution in La Paz and Los Cabos continue to be the so-called mobile sources: land, sea and air transport.
Although it is often thought that cars are the main culprits, Valenzuela Meza stresses that sea and air transport also play a crucial role in the degradation of air quality.
In addition, the Internal Combustion Plant (CCI) of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) in La Paz and small businesses that contribute to the burning of waste and other pollutants also aggravate the situation.
In Los Cabos, the situation becomes more critical with activities such as the extraction of rock material, which has significantly worsened air quality.
Impacts caused by the expansion of electricity generation plants in the area have also been identified.
The worst conditions are recorded at the entrances and exits to Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, where freight traffic and tourist transport without filters contribute to high levels of pollution.
Why is air quality measured?
A constant concern for CERCA is PM 10 and PM 2.5 particulate matter.
PM10 are those inhalable particles that have diameters of 10 micrometers and smaller.
PM2.5 are fine inhalable particles that have diameters of 2.5 micrometers and smaller.
How many are 2.5 micrometers? Take a single hair on your head as a reference. On average, a human hair measures approximately 70 micrometers in diameter, making it 30 times larger than the largest fine particle.
Valenzuela explains that these small particles, invisible to the human eye, represent a significant danger to health due to their ability to penetrate the respiratory system and the bloodstream, affecting various organs.
Valenzuela Meza explains that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), particulate matter is one of the most dangerous pollutants, and its constant monitoring is essential to prevent acute and chronic health effects on the population.
To address this problem, CERCA is working on the “Clean Air” campaign, which includes measures from citizens as well as from the public and private sectors to improve air quality.
The campaign is expected to be officially launched next year, accompanied by the improvement of the digital platform that will now be accessible nationwide, and the installation of monitors in other cities such as Manzanillo, Colima.
The intention is to replicate the model applied in Baja California Sur to other cities and continue raising awareness about the importance of maintaining clean and healthy air.
“We are focused on having a real-time monitoring network that allows us to know what the concentration of this particulate matter is, in which areas and at what time, to protect the health of citizens,” said Valenzuela Meza.
He emphasized that the priority should be to achieve more “green days” with good air quality in the municipalities of Baja California Sur.
How to find out more?
Valenzuela Meza said that CERCA is preparing a detailed report that will be published in December of this year.
This annual report will contain a comprehensive analysis of the data collected during 2024, including comparisons between the municipalities of La Paz and Los Cabos, as well as a monthly breakdown of the pollution levels recorded.
“We want the population to understand which months and which areas had the highest levels of pollution, so that both citizens and authorities can take appropriate measures,” he said.
The report will also include information on the neighborhoods that presented the greatest air quality problems, as well as an analysis of the seasonal behavior of pollution and the main sources that contributed to the observed levels.
The executive director emphasized that the main objective of this report is to raise awareness and promote concrete actions that contribute to improving air quality in Baja California Sur.
“We are working to make our cities healthier and more sustainable places. Information is key, and through this report we want to provide a tool that serves both citizens and decision makers to act in an informed and responsible manner,” concluded Valenzuela Meza.
In addition, new technological tools are being developed, such as a mobile application available on both Google Play and the App Store, called “Aire Limpio,” which will allow citizens to access real-time information on air quality in their localities and make informed decisions to protect their health.
Source: elsudcaliforniano
