The Marin leads the most polluted District sectors – El Comercio (Ecuador)

Air Quito is constantly affected by the pollution produced by cars, forest fires and open burning. The Necochea, La Marin, San Roque, San Juan, El Guambra, Monteserrín and Cumbayá street are areas that have been most affected by this problem.

According technicians District Environment Secretariat , the largest contribution of pollution credits it to traffic caused by public transport that runs on diesel. This explains why the area The Marin leads in annual averages 2015 concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and maintains the first position so far this year.

The standard for annual averages states that measurements NO2 should not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic meter in this area and 95 micrograms per cubic meter is reached.

This is followed by the street General Necochea (64 micrograms per cubic meter), which is quite busy and has become an area known for the amount of smoke that is perceived in their environment.

Carmen Coba believes that pollution in this street has decreased, but still represents a problem. She has lived in the General Necochea for 40 years, although the Smog and the number of vehicles passing through the place will not let her live in peace, has not considered moving.

Coba took steps like putting tape on their windows and never leave the door open. But the results have not been encouraging.

The impact health are visible. There is always sore throat and has developed some allergies, he says.

Esteban Serrano , otolaryngologist, says that living in areas with high air pollution increases the likelihood of developing acute and chronic to medium and long term respiratory diseases. Asthma sufferers should not live in areas with high levels of pollution.

In the air particles known as PM 2.5, which can cause damage to people are also concentrated as it is a very fine particulate material easily enters the nose. These particles can be found in emissions from diesel-powered buses.

According to the Ministry of Environment of the city, the air in Quito does not exceed the average quality standard 50 micrograms per cubic centimeter . But there are sectors such as Cotocollao, Carapungo, Historical Center, Belisario and San Antonio de Pichincha where the norm is exceeded itself.

this entity technicians explain that these areas report high levels, because there is much dust in suspension due to the existence of quarries. In time wind particles tend to move in the air. Vehicles also contribute.

As mitigation measures out checks on motor take to reduce emissions.

For the Ministry of Environment, the modernization of the transport system with the integration of bi-articulated, Metrocables, Metro and BiciQuito will help reduce air pollution in the District. The goal is to decrease by about 1.4 million tons of CO2 for the next ten years.