Urban Air Pollution and Forests

by Fenn, Mark E.; De Bauer, L. I.; Hernandez-Tejeda, Tomas; Molina, Mario J.

• ISBN13: 9780387953373
• ISBN10: 038795337X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-06-01
• Publisher: Springer Nature

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

Foreword	v
Mario J. Molina
Preface	vii
Acknowledgments	xi
Contributors	xvii
Section 1. Fast and Present Environmental and Sociological Factors Affecting Forests in the Mexico City Air Basin
Historical Summary of the Geology, Climate, Hydrology, Culture, and Natural Resource Utilization in the Basin of Mexico	3	(21)
Guadalupe de la Lanza Espino
Jose Luis Garcia-Calderon
Socioeconomic Change and Its Impact on Forest Resources in the Basin of Mexico	24	(20)
Exequiel Ezcurra
Marisa Mazari-Hiriart
Irene Pisanty
Adrian Guillermo Aguilar
Physical Geography Hydrogeology, and Forest Soils of the Basin of Mexico	44	(24)
Luis E. Marin
Oscar Escolero-Fuentes
Antonio Trinidad-Santos
Forests in the Basin of Mexico: Types, Geographic Distribution, and Condition	68	(18)
Carlos Rodriguez-Franco
The Climate of the Mexico City Air Basin: Its Effects on the Formation and Transport of Pollutants	86	(35)
Ernesto Jauregui
Section 2. Air Pollution in the Mexico City Air Basin
Air Pollution Levels and Trends in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area	121	(39)
Humberto Bravo-Alvarez
Ricardo Torres-Jardon
Emissions Trends and Pollution Control Strategies in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area	160	(34)
M. Esther Ruiz
Jorge Gasca
Heavy Metals in Forest Soils, Vegetation, and Drainage Waters in the Basin of Mexico	194	(31)
Mark E Fenn
Juana Maria Castro-Servin
Tomas Hernandez-Tejeda
Natalie Krage
Chris Goodson
Thomas Meixner
Section 3. Ecological Effects of Air Pollutants in the Mexico City Air Basin: Case Studies
Oxidant Exposure and Effects on Pines in Forests in the Mexico City and Los Angeles, California, Air Basins	225	(18)
Paul R. Miller
L.I de Bauer
Tomas Hernandez-Tejeda
Decline of Sacred Fir in the Desierto de los Leones National Park	243	(18)
Dionicio Alvarado-Rosales
Tomas Hernandez-Tejeda
Histological Symptoms of Air Pollution Injury in Foliage, Bark, and Xylem of Abies religiosa in the Basin of Mexico	261	(22)
Teresa Terrazas
Sergio Bernal-Salazar
Lichens and Air Pollution in the Forests Surrounding Mexico City	283	(15)
Angel Zambrano
T.H. Nash III
M.A. Herrera-Campos
Nitrogen and Sulfur Deposition in the Mexico City Air Basin: Impacts on Forest Nutrient Status and Nitrate Levels in Drainage Waters	298	(22)
Mark E. Fenn
L.I. de Bauer
Karl Zeller
Abel Quevedo
Claudio Rodriguez
Tomas Hernandez-Tejada
Effects of Oxidants in Ambient Air on Annual Crops in the Basin of Mexico	320	(17)
Carlos Fredy Ortiz-Garcia
Hector D. Laguette-Rey
L.I. de Bauer
Section 4. Summary, Synthesis, and Perspectives
Summary of Air Pollution Impacts on Forests in the Mexico City Air Basin	337	(19)
Mark E. Fenn
L.I. de Bauer
Tomas Hernandez-Tejeda
Resources at Risk and Research Needs	356	(17)
L.I. de Bauer
Tomas Hernandez-Tejeda
Mark E. Fenn
Index	373