SMOG! Medellin!

goin_south says on Aug 9, 2008, 23:53:

HEY, ... Lipper.... why don't you jus give us a FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTING....?????

(instead of a left- ... or, right-handed account.) ..... lol

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

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august says on Aug 11, 2008, 07:51:

Lipper, your impressions were right. It´s miserable and dangerous to your health and if you ride the bus to work, nearly impossible to arrive without smelling like diesel. I´ll try to translate for you a section of pg. 48 of the Medellín Development Plan 2008-2011 that discusses the environmental concerns of the city:

"The atmospheric contamination of Medellín is estimated at 224,774 tons of contaminants emitted to the atmosphere (particulate matter, sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds), of which 63% are emitted from mobile sources, 31% from immobile sources and the rest from biological sources. Due to this contamination, annually 22 children die for each 100,000 minors under 5 years of age from acute respiratory infection, which is produced principally by concentrations of breatheable particulate matter (PM sub 10) in the environment, of which Medellín amounts to 74 ug/m cubed, exceeding the norm of 70 ug/m cubed. The particulate matter is the principal cause of viruses and bacterias that begin respiratory infections."

Later on, it goes on to say how the Alcaldía´s goal is to reduce that 74 to 70 by 2011. Hmm, right.

So that´s pretty impressive. Sadly, when you factor in how many youth in the city are making it to high school science classes (not enough) where you mostly start to learn about environmental issues, you can start to understand why hardly any locals seem to say much of anything about the problem and it seems it´s mostly the foreigners who are covering their mouths after a bus passes by belching out a cloud of black diesel exhaust.

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Mononoke28 says on Aug 11, 2008, 11:06:

I saw a lot of people job by the Olaya Herrera airport at rush hour (5pm-7pm) and I just don't know how they did it. The smog in Medellín is enough to make you sick for life. Blech.

Diana

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tejasmarcos says on Aug 11, 2008, 11:12:

well, technically it is not smog because there is no fog per se. smog is a coastal phenomenon, cierto? however, it is the worst i have ever seen or experienced. the valley effect really concentrates the pollution in the valley itself, hence the reason why many of the rich are moving out of the valley to places like llano grande, etc.

- i would even go farther out on a limb and say medellin probably has some of the highest incidences of upper respiratory and skin problems in the entire country due to this issue.

- the cleanest times are when it rains and when the wind is blowing in the summer months.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Lisa Zee says on Aug 11, 2008, 11:57:

And it is raining everyday I hear, so I guess there is not so much pollution this days?

Feliz Navidad!

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tejasmarcos says on Aug 11, 2008, 12:13:

there is pollution every day. however, the rain tends to clean it from the air somewhat when it is raining. that being said, as soon as it stops raining, the pollution begins to accumulate immediately.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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jonas says on Aug 11, 2008, 13:14:

maybe Bogota ain´t so bad after alllllll

Mi alma se la dejo al diablo

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Mononoke28 says on Aug 11, 2008, 13:53:

I didn't have any issues with Bogotá last September, it was very nice and clean compared to Medellín.

Diana

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A_Fern says on Aug 11, 2008, 18:25:

So why do so many people want to move to Medellin if you are killing yourself each and every day?

Ignorance?

How does Medellin smog compare to NYC or LA?

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tejasmarcos says on Aug 11, 2008, 19:05:

interesting pollution maps...

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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LPwill says on Aug 11, 2008, 19:08:

Its in Spanish. Ughh!

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rocinante says on Aug 11, 2008, 20:30:

Baranquilla has great air quality, awesome food with flavor and the best women who love foreigners.

But in Medelliín people walk the streets wearing masks over their mouths to combat the smog. There are little black particles spewing out of trucks that actually pelt you in the face. I'm not joking.

If Medellín got rid of the emissions problem people would live 10 years longer.

Of course I'm not one to want to change a city...

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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LPwill says on Aug 11, 2008, 20:39:

Good advice Roci from someone who lives there.

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Mononoke28 says on Aug 12, 2008, 09:22:

A_Fern says on Aug 11, 2008, 18:25:
So why do so many people want to move to Medellin if you are killing yourself each and every day?

Ignorance?

How does Medellin smog compare to NYC or LA?
------------------------------------------------

It's not ignorance. I personally think it's because of the weather (even though the whole smog thing is making it hotter each day) and the people. Can't beat their attitude, which is very welcoming and down to earth.

If you live outside of the centro in barrios like El Poblado or even go to Envigado, you don't even feel it.

I think the smog level is worse than LA or NYC since it's not regulated. They might say they do regulate it or plan to do so but in all reality, it's not.

Diana

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tomtom33 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 12, 2008, 11:12:

mranderson says on Aug 12, 2008, 11:25:

It´s raining pretty hard right now. Everyone take a deep breath while you can.

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august says on Aug 12, 2008, 13:27:

Yeah that´s definitely interesting that according to the maps, the southern end of the valley is where the pollution is where the worst pollution is at. I don´t spend too much time down there, but I can´t even begin to imagine what that´s like if the Centro is as bad as it is.

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Mononoke28 says on Aug 12, 2008, 14:01:

I did see them, but to be honest with you, I felt it a lot less when I was there. We have a ton of family in both places and always felt an enormous relief whenever we got there. It could be all my head though, but then again, I have a lot of weird stuff in my head. =D

Diana

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tomtom33 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 12, 2008, 14:14:

rocinante says on Aug 12, 2008, 16:26:

You actually get used to the smog. I just remember when I was not used to it how I would choke. It was unbearable. The air in the south smells better but remember carbon monoxide is odorless. THe air is bad when measured.

There are times where some trucks and busses are spewing out black blankets of smog that you can't see - cars only a short distance away are opaque outlines in a dark cloud.

I can't see how breathing this in does not have long term physical deterioration on the body. I really think years are shaved off of people's lives. Just like with smoking.

I have complained about this since my first time here.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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goin_south says on Aug 12, 2008, 22:44:

you and billyb need to run for mayor and cleant the town up;
Of course, then there will be more gringos GOIN_SOUTH ;-)

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

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