Mexico City Emits New Pollution Alert For High Ozone Levels

Mexico City: Mexican authorities have issued a new smog alert for the capital after ozone levels rose above 150 per cent of acceptable limits.

It's the fourth time this year that Mexico City has seen such an alert, which triggers additional restrictions on automobile usage.

On Sunday 20 per cent of vehicles will be barred from the streets of the capital and the surrounding suburbs. If conditions don't improve, that will increase to 40 per cent on Monday.

The Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis said Saturday that it hopes for a "slow but gradual scattering of the contaminants."

In March, Mexico City issued its first pollution alert in over a decade. Since then it has lowered the threshold at which an alert is declared, from 200 per cent of acceptable levels to 150 per cent.

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