For four consecutive days this week, the Jalisco Environmental Agency (Semadet) Las Pintas air quality monitoring station to the south of the metropolitan area registered alarmingly high quantities of contaminants in the atmosphere.
The readings have remained steadily above 100 Imecas – a level considered “bad” that may provoke symptoms in people (especially children and the elderly) with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, but not high enough to issue an emergency alert.
Phase One of Semadet’s emergency alert occurs when a monitoring station records a level higher than 150 Imecas for more than two continuous hours. Residents are subsequently advised not to use their vehicles unless absolutely necessary, stay indoors and keep their windows closed.