My imagination has been running wild vividly envisioning the duel of two super-heroes, the clash of an irresistible force against an immovable force, like Superman versus a black hole. Well, that was just to help you get a sense of magnitude for my real query, wondering which city has worse air pollution: Mexico City or Kathmandu. Without getting into an ecological study I imagine that both cities could compete well for the title. Mexico city is considered to be among the world’s worst cities for air pollution because of its location surrounded by tall mountains. Its position locks in all the smog, fire and dust from the city and perpetually keeps the skies in Mexico city a thick brown haze. I believe the conditions would be the same if the perimeter of Kathmandu were also lined with inescapable mountain passes.

As far as I can tell there are no safety of emissions regulations in the city, and the idea is absurd considering the other more pressing issues the law enforcement agencies have to deal with. The streets are literally jam packed with sub-sub-compact passenger cars and motorized rickshaws swerving past hallowed cattle and frenzied pedestrians. Each of these billions and billions (Carl Sagan intonation) of hot, gaseous bodies (humans and cattle included) emits noxious pollution. I imagine there are also factories on the outskirts of town that really pump out junk into the air to share with everyone. Walking yourself in the city center you quickly feel the effects of the gasses as they go to your head. The fumes and smoke create the kind of high you can’t get in Freak Street anymore, and the human body can take it for a couple of days without permanent damage, but I wonder about the permanent residents. Give credit to the open valley and the fresh winds for clearing out the worst effects.