Do You Smell That?
File it under: "And You Thought We Had It Bad"...apparently the smog and pollution in Mexico City is so bad that the residents are actually losing their sense of smell. Call it survival, call it bad news evolution, but according to a recent study the nasal cavities of the 20 million locals are slamming shut in protest. The smog is so hazardous that the government issues warnings for residents to stay indoors!
"Their noses are so badly damaged from a life inhaling toxic particles that they also find it harder to detect the scent of rotten food," said researcher Robyn Hudson who ran the study.
So, exactly how do we know this about the respiratory habits of Mexico City's peeps? Scientists recently measured the locals' ability to identify the scent of things like coffee and orange juice and compared the results to the results of Mexicans in nearby towns.
As reported by Reuters, "Mexico City is one of the world's most polluted capitals, along with Beijing, blighted by its thin high-altitude air and a ring of surrounding mountains that trap exhaust fumes belched from smoky buses and factories on the city outskirts."
Nice. What's next for this band of rogue pollution scientists? They are now trying to figure out if the stinking, thick, yellow pollution is causing cellular damage to the eyes. I'll say it again...CELLULAR EYE DAMAGE. Jeez Louise.
So my question is: how bad does it have to get before someone demands change, demands a healthy environment for their kids and demands the right to freakin' smell? Or do we just shrug our shoulders and hope that evolution simply eliminates the need for a nose altogether??
About this blog
Roxanne Kotzman is a Daily News Photo Department veteran of nine years. When she and longtime friend Stacy Long
discovered their love all of all things environmentally responsible, they launched Happy Monkey Planet and jumped head-first into the vibrant eco-community.
Wow, so much to learn! But initially the idea is a pretty simple one: Let's change the world through information, education and action.
Rox & Stacy are a lot like you: ecologically minded but sometimes just plain overwhelmed when charged with the task of making a far-reaching difference in the environment. They have jobs, families, homes, lives and pets.
But what if doing better was a simple as a light-bulb change, a reusable canvas grocery bag, recycling that soda can or a cold-water wash?
These eco-chicks just hope to have a little fun, learn a little more, share a lot of information and maybe make the planet a happier, greener, cleaner place.
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