Nuevo León air quality claims face scrutiny over rising toxic gases

Governor Samuel García of Nuevo León has claimed that the state's air quality has improved significantly over the last five years, citing a downward trend in pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, sulfur, and nitrates.

However, data suggests these claims are misleading. While some pollutants have decreased, annual averages for ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) have actually increased. The Comité Ecológico Integral (CEI) notes that official monitoring is limited to six criteria pollutants, leaving potentially carcinogenic substances like volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, and ammonia unmonitored. Additionally, the reliability of air quality data is often compromised by monitoring stations that are not consistently operational.