Scientist: Pollution destroying pre-Aztec Mexican ruins (Reuters/CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Reuters) -- Oil refineries and power stations pumping acid air pollutants along Mexico's Gulf coast threaten to erase carved stone murals at the pre-Aztec ruined city of El Tajin, a scientist said on Sunday.

Air pollution specialist Humberto Bravo said acid levels in the air around El Tajin, in oil producing Veracruz state, were among the highest in Mexico.

El Tajin's architecture is famous for intricate reliefs, many depicting an ancient Mesoamerican ball game sometimes compared to basketball.

"If nothing is done, within 10, 20 or 100 years, the hieroglyphics will disappear," said Bravo, from Mexico's UNAM university.

Bravo, who spent four years simulating the effects of polluted air and acid rain on El Tajin's soft limestone buildings, blamed the erosion on contaminants like chlorine, sulfates and nitrates in the air from power stations and oil refineries.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/01/22/mexico.ruins.reut/index.html

[YankeyMCC]

1. Very sad nt