Pollution Affects the Health and Wallets of Mexicans
The high level of pollution in the country’s metropolises, such as Mexico City, directly impacts what people have to pay for medications and treatments, as well as negatively affecting economic growth. Air pollution is linked to respiratory diseases and even mortality rates, which is why, according to Mexico's central bank (Banxico), the costs of therapies and products to care for and prevent these health issues have increased, with prices now being up to 14% higher than they were ten years ago.
Alejandrina Salcedo, who leads the economic research at Banxico, stated that five products were selected for the study where pollution would have a direct impact: cold medicines, medical consultations, allergy medications, decongestants, and anti-inflammatories. Of these, only medical consultations showed a decrease in price, although this is due to increased demand from patients. Cold medicines and decongestants saw the highest price increases, with rises of 14.5% and 12.1%, respectively. Anti-inflammatories went up by 8.6% and antihistamines by 3%. These increases contrast with an average inflation rate of 4.6% recorded between 2013 and 2024. Last year, Banxico also published a study titled "Impact of Air Pollution on Reported Cases of Acute Respiratory Infections and Pneumonia in Mexico," which highlighted that for every 10% increase in pollution levels, there are an additional 203,807 reported cases of acute respiratory infections each year. A notable effect was also observed in cases of pneumonia and bronchopneumonia, adding 1,998 more cases annually. The costs associated with these diseases extend beyond what Mexicans spend: the country suffered losses of 11.5 billion pesos in productivity and 2.5 billion in healthcare expenses. "These costs from environmental degradation due to air emissions accounted for 2.5% of GDP in 2022," warned Banxico. In its study "Air Pollution in Mexico's Cities and the Price of Certain Health-Linked Goods and Services," the bank emphasized that while the increase is manageable so far, there are regions where the impact is more evident. Between 2013 and 2024, the central-northern and northern regions of the country recorded the highest pollution levels, as noted by Banxico. In particular, Colima, Baja California, and Jalisco are the most affected by high concentrations of particles in the air during that period. "The southern part of the country shows the lowest average pollution levels caused by particles of 2.5 microns or less in inhabited areas," the report mentions. Although Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, and Tlaxcala are in affected zones, no significant harmful particle levels have been reported for their populations. Mexico City, which recently experienced two consecutive days of environmental alerts, is the ninth entity with the highest concentrations of particles since 2013. Last year was especially harmful to the health of those living in the capital. The Metropolitan Area, including Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Puebla, Hidalgo, and Tlaxcala, reported 30 days of environmental alerts. The effect on people’s wallets is becoming increasingly evident.
It’s crucial to be aware that taking care of our environment is not only key to public health but also to the economy. Investing in policies that reduce pollution could lead to significant savings for citizens in healthcare costs and improve the country's productivity, benefiting everyone. The long-term sustainability of the economic system depends on the health of our population and the environment in which we live.
