**Air Quality in Tijuana to Worsen; Environmental Alerts Issued by SMADS**
In recent weeks, Tijuana residents have already been experiencing poor air quality, and it’s expected to worsen in the coming months. This has been attributed to various seasonal factors, explained José Carmelo Zavala Álvarez, the director of the Center for Environmental Innovation and Management (CIGA).
As the colder months approach, fewer air movements and thermal inversions will likely exacerbate the situation. This challenge has prompted the Secretariat of the Environment and Sustainable Development (SMADS) to issue several atmospheric alerts. While the latest alert was lifted by early afternoon on a Saturday, ongoing vigilance is recommended, especially concerning physical activities outdoors.
Zavala Álvarez pointed out that the primary culprit for the air pollution is emissions from motor vehicles, particularly diesel-powered ones, compounded by constant burning of agricultural lands and waste, unpaved roads, and industrial emissions.
The city’s air monitoring system currently only detects PM 2.5 particles, which have surpassed permissible levels, but these are accompanied by other harmful contaminants. It’s a stark reminder of how invisible air pollutants impact health, capable of penetrating the lungs, reaching the bloodstream, and potentially causing severe health issues including those affecting the brain.
Mitigating these effects would require transitioning public transportation from diesel to gas or electricity, Zavala Álvarez noted.
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