Air quality in Durango

What is the current level of air pollution in Durango?

Durango officially named Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango is one of the 31 states which make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in the north western part of the country and after a census conducted in 2020, it was estimated to have an approximate population of over 1.8 million people.

At the beginning of 2022, Durango was enjoying a period of “Good” quality air with a US AQI reading of just 27. This United States Air Quality Index number is an internationally used set of metrics supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is used to compare the air quality in different cities throughout the world using comparable standards. It is calculated by using the levels of the six most commonly found pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and both sizes of particulate matter, which are PM2.5 and PM10. If all six figures are not always available in which case, a level is calculated by using what data there is. For Durango, there were three of the major pollutants measured. These were PM2.5 - 6.5 µg/m³, PM10 - 22.6 µg/m³ and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) - 4.2 µg/m³.

This level of PM2.5 is well under the recommended safe level of 10 µg/m³ as suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as being an acceptable level. Although no amount of air pollution is considered to be safe.

When air quality is classified as being “Good” there is no advice given as none is needed. Doors and windows can be safely opened without fear of the ingress of dirty air from outside. All types of outdoor activities can also be enjoyed without fear. There is a downloadable app from AirVisual.com which is suitable for all operating systems and gives the latest information regarding air quality in real-time.

Does the level of air pollution vary much throughout the year in Durango?

Air quality can be affected by many things, therefore it can and does change rapidly depending on the local conditions. Looking back at the 2020 figures published by IQAir.com, it can be seen that for the entire twelve months, Durango recorded air quality as “Moderate” with readings between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. The month with the cleanest air was August with a figure of 13.5 µg/m³. By contrast, the dirtiest month was December with a reading of 30.5 µg/m³.

Records regarding air quality were first held in 2019 when an annual average of 16.7 µg/m³ was noted. The following year recorded a strange figure of 17.3 µg/m³. This figure was not expected because it would have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as many vehicles were no longer in daily use because the offices were closed and the staff encouraged to work from home, in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus. Many factories and non-essential production units were also required to close which removed their emissions from the atmosphere, albeit on a temporary basis. Worldwide, cities reported a much better quality of air due to the general lack of traffic pollution in city centres due to the pandemic.

What is the main source of air pollution in Durango?

More than 60 per cent of the emissions that are in the air of the Durango capital are due to motor vehicles powered by fossil fuels. The rest of the percentage is due to dust pollution, and industries such as asphalt and brick factories, dust from unpaved streets and the scarce industry of the urban sprawl also contribute to the pollution.

The little valid information available reveals that the pollutant that most frequently determines a condition of poor air quality in Durango are PM10 suspended particles.

An important problem for the city of Durango in environmental matters was the existence of workshops for the production of fired red brick used in construction. The problem to be solved was the high level of pollutants that were discharged into the atmosphere due to traditional cooking methods, harming the inhabitants of the marginalized neighbourhoods where they were located, and in general, the entire city of Durango.

The project consists of the reconversion of the combustion system of more than 4,000 workshops that until then used a traditional burning system for making bricks, in addition to the relocation of 200 workshops to other areas of the municipality that are further away from the urban centre.

The project incorporated the construction of the Ladrillero Industrial Park, on a piece of land far from the urban area of the city, which serves as a new place for the relocated builders and offers new facilities for brick makers.

Can anything be done to improve air quality in Durango?

The "Breathe Life" campaign highlights practical policy actions that can be implemented by cities (improvements to housing, transport, waste and energy systems) or those that individuals and communities can take (for example, stop burning waste, promote green spaces and facilitate walking or cycling) to improve air quality. In this sense, the global campaign "Breathe Life" represents an opportunity for the Government and Society to jointly develop the conditions that lead to a better quality of life for citizens, helping to make their cities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

The authorities of the municipality of Durango, aware of the serious problem that air pollution represents for the health and quality of life of the population in cities and communities, as well as the planet in general, have decided to join the global campaign "Breathe life".

What are the detrimental effects of breathing in polluted air in Durango?

Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air. Automobile exhaust, factory chemicals, dust, pollen, and mould spores can be suspended as particulate matter. Ozone, a gas, is a fundamental component of air pollution in cities. When ozone forms air pollution it is also called smog.

Some air pollutants are toxic. Its inhalation can increase the chances of having health problems. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children are at higher risk for problems from air pollution. Air pollution doesn't just happen outside: the air inside buildings can also be polluted and affect your health.