Distribution of PM2.5 Air Pollution in Mexico City: Spatial Analysis with Land-Use Regression Model

Israel Hinojosa-Baliño,Maite Vallejo,Oscar Infante-Vázquez

doi:10.3390/app9142936

Abstract

In this study, the spatial distribution of PM2.5 air pollution in Mexico City from 37 personal exposures was modeled. Meteorological, demographic, geographic, and social data were also included. Geographic information systems (GIS), spatial analysis, and Land-Use Regression (LUR) were used to generate the final predictive model and the spatial distribution map which revealed two areas with very high concentrations (up to 109.3 µg/m3) and two more with lower concentrations (between 72 to 86.5 µg/m3) (p < 0.05). These results illustrate an overview trend of PM2.5 in relation to human activity during the studied periods in Mexico City and show a general approach to understanding the spatial variability of PM2.5.

Highlights

IntroductionAir pollution is a well-known health problem affecting several mega cities, especially those in low- and middle-income countries where more than 80% of the population is exposed to dangerous air quality levels, which frequently exceed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air pollution guideline limits [1]
In Mexico City, there is a severe air pollution problem due to the presence of several diverse factors: (a) its geographical situation in the lacustrine plain of an endorheic basin [3]; (b) its average altitude of 2240 m above sea level in its central part; (c) it is surrounded by mountains with an average height of 1000 m above the basin level; and (d) unpredictable but frequent meteorological phenomena that affect the environment
Relative humidity showed minor variations throughout Mexico City’s territory; it was lower during the dry season, rising up to 99% during the rainy season

Summary

Introduction

Air pollution is a well-known health problem affecting several mega cities, especially those in low- and middle-income countries where more than 80% of the population is exposed to dangerous air quality levels, which frequently exceed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air pollution guideline limits [1]. In Mexico City (formerly Distrito Federal), there is a severe air pollution problem due to the presence of several diverse factors: (a) its geographical situation in the lacustrine plain of an endorheic basin [3]; (b) its average altitude of 2240 m above sea level (masl) in its central part; (c) it is surrounded by mountains with an average height of 1000 m above the basin level; and (d) unpredictable but frequent meteorological phenomena that affect the environment (e.g., volcanic ash clouds, hurricanes, droughts, floods, wildfires).

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion