Ebook: Urban Air Pollution and Forests: Resources at Risk in the Mexico City Air Basin

At present, roughly half of the world's population lives in urban centers. There are now more than 20 cities with a population of over 10 million inhabitants, compared to less than 5 about 50 years ago. This tendency toward urbanization is expected to continue, particularly in the developing world. A consequence of this growing trend is that millions of people are being exposed to harmful levels of urban air pollutants caused mainly by emissions from motor vehicles and from industrial and domestic activities involving the combustion of fossil fuels. The driving force for the design and implementation of emission control strate­ gies aimed at improving air quality has been the protection of the health of the population in urban centers. There are, however, other consequences of the pres­ ence of air pollutants besides the direct effect on human health. Reduced visibil­ ity, damage to monuments and buildings, and many other such consequences indirectly affect our quality of life. Another set of consequences involves damage to ecological systems. In fact, the nature of "photochemical smog" was first uncovered in the 1950s in connection with observations of its harmful effects on crops and plants in the vicinity of Los Angeles.

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With a population of more than eighteen million people, Mexico City is a major metropolitan area where the effects of urban development on air quality are of immediate concern. Air pollution exposures and effects on forests in the Mexico City Air Basin are in many respects similar to those reported in the Los Angeles, California Air Basin. Studies of air pollution impacts on forests in these two regions may serve as models for urban areas all over the world. Although scientists have studied air pollution and its effects on forests and vegetation in the Mexico City Air Basin for years, this book reviews and synthesizes this body of work for the first time. This synthesis is particularly valuable as air pollution increases at an alarming rate along with global urbanization. A thorough discussion of regional geology, climate and hydrology, historical natural resource utilization, and sociological factors provide the context for evaluating air pollution impacts on the highly valued forests surrounding this megacity. The environmental and ecological consequences of chronic exposure to biologically important pollutants are considered in various case studies. Finally, the editors discuss the state of air pollution research in the Mexico City Air Basin and the outlook for the health and sustainability of forests within the Basin.

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With a population of more than eighteen million people, Mexico City is a major metropolitan area where the effects of urban development on air quality are of immediate concern. Air pollution exposures and effects on forests in the Mexico City Air Basin are in many respects similar to those reported in the Los Angeles, California Air Basin. Studies of air pollution impacts on forests in these two regions may serve as models for urban areas all over the world. Although scientists have studied air pollution and its effects on forests and vegetation in the Mexico City Air Basin for years, this book reviews and synthesizes this body of work for the first time. This synthesis is particularly valuable as air pollution increases at an alarming rate along with global urbanization. A thorough discussion of regional geology, climate and hydrology, historical natural resource utilization, and sociological factors provide the context for evaluating air pollution impacts on the highly valued forests surrounding this megacity. The environmental and ecological consequences of chronic exposure to biologically important pollutants are considered in various case studies. Finally, the editors discuss the state of air pollution research in the Mexico City Air Basin and the outlook for the health and sustainability of forests within the Basin.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxi
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Historical Summary of the Geology, Climate, Hydrology, Culture, and Natural Resource Utilization in the Basin of Mexico....Pages 3-23
Socioeconomic Change and Its Impact on Forest Resources in the Basin of Mexico....Pages 24-43
Physical Geography, Hydrogeology, and Forest Soils of the Basin of Mexico....Pages 44-67
Forests in the Basin of Mexico: Types, Geographic Distribution, and Condition....Pages 68-85
The Climate of the Mexico City Air Basin: Its Effects on the Formation and Transport of Pollutants....Pages 86-117
Front Matter....Pages 119-119
Air Pollution Levels and Trends in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area....Pages 121-159
Emissions Trends and Pollution Control Strategies in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area....Pages 160-193
Heavy Metals in Forest Soils, Vegetation, and Drainage Waters in the Basin of Mexico....Pages 194-221
Front Matter....Pages 223-223
Oxidant Exposure and Effects on Pines in Forests in the Mexico City and Los Angeles, California, Air Basins....Pages 225-242
Decline of Sacred Fir in the Desierto de los Leones National Park....Pages 243-260
Histological Symptoms of Air Pollution Injury in Foliage, Bark, and Xylem of Abies religiosa in the Basin of Mexico....Pages 261-282
Lichens and Air Pollution in the Forests Surrounding Mexico City....Pages 283-297
Nitrogen and Sulfur Deposition in the Mexico City Air Basin: Impacts on Forest Nutrient Status and Nitrate Levels in Drainage Waters....Pages 298-319
Effects of Oxidants in Ambient Air on Annual Crops in the Basin of Mexico....Pages 320-333
Front Matter....Pages 335-335
Summary of Air Pollution Impacts on Forests in the Mexico City Air Basin....Pages 337-355
Resources at Risk and Research Needs....Pages 356-372
Back Matter....Pages 373-390

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With a population of more than eighteen million people, Mexico City is a major metropolitan area where the effects of urban development on air quality are of immediate concern. Air pollution exposures and effects on forests in the Mexico City Air Basin are in many respects similar to those reported in the Los Angeles, California Air Basin. Studies of air pollution impacts on forests in these two regions may serve as models for urban areas all over the world. Although scientists have studied air pollution and its effects on forests and vegetation in the Mexico City Air Basin for years, this book reviews and synthesizes this body of work for the first time. This synthesis is particularly valuable as air pollution increases at an alarming rate along with global urbanization. A thorough discussion of regional geology, climate and hydrology, historical natural resource utilization, and sociological factors provide the context for evaluating air pollution impacts on the highly valued forests surrounding this megacity. The environmental and ecological consequences of chronic exposure to biologically important pollutants are considered in various case studies. Finally, the editors discuss the state of air pollution research in the Mexico City Air Basin and the outlook for the health and sustainability of forests within the Basin.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxi
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Historical Summary of the Geology, Climate, Hydrology, Culture, and Natural Resource Utilization in the Basin of Mexico....Pages 3-23
Socioeconomic Change and Its Impact on Forest Resources in the Basin of Mexico....Pages 24-43
Physical Geography, Hydrogeology, and Forest Soils of the Basin of Mexico....Pages 44-67
Forests in the Basin of Mexico: Types, Geographic Distribution, and Condition....Pages 68-85
The Climate of the Mexico City Air Basin: Its Effects on the Formation and Transport of Pollutants....Pages 86-117
Front Matter....Pages 119-119
Air Pollution Levels and Trends in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area....Pages 121-159
Emissions Trends and Pollution Control Strategies in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area....Pages 160-193
Heavy Metals in Forest Soils, Vegetation, and Drainage Waters in the Basin of Mexico....Pages 194-221
Front Matter....Pages 223-223
Oxidant Exposure and Effects on Pines in Forests in the Mexico City and Los Angeles, California, Air Basins....Pages 225-242
Decline of Sacred Fir in the Desierto de los Leones National Park....Pages 243-260
Histological Symptoms of Air Pollution Injury in Foliage, Bark, and Xylem of Abies religiosa in the Basin of Mexico....Pages 261-282
Lichens and Air Pollution in the Forests Surrounding Mexico City....Pages 283-297
Nitrogen and Sulfur Deposition in the Mexico City Air Basin: Impacts on Forest Nutrient Status and Nitrate Levels in Drainage Waters....Pages 298-319
Effects of Oxidants in Ambient Air on Annual Crops in the Basin of Mexico....Pages 320-333
Front Matter....Pages 335-335
Summary of Air Pollution Impacts on Forests in the Mexico City Air Basin....Pages 337-355
Resources at Risk and Research Needs....Pages 356-372
Back Matter....Pages 373-390
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