MEXICO CITY, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The environmental authority of the Mexico City metropolitan area announced on Tuesday new measures aimed at reducing air pollutant emissions by up to 46 percent by 2024.

Director of the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis (CAMe) Victor Hugo Paramo said the measures will tackle the emission problem from 4.5 million vehicles, 2,000 industries, 3,000 businesses and 6 million homes in the metropolis.

The objective is to gradually reduce the emissions of ozone precursors by 46 percent, of particles smaller than 10 micrometers (PM10) by 12 percent, and of particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) by 14 percent.

The CAMe will restrict the circulation of polluting cargo vehicles to certain time and routes, and motorcycles must have an emission control equipment after 2021.

"The important thing is to reduce the emissions of these volatile organic compounds, which, as has been proved scientifically, rule the ozone formation in the metropolitan area," Paramo said.

Mexico City's mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, stressed that they seek to prevent pollution from harming the health of the more than 21 million inhabitants of the metropolitan area.

"We can not continue with this trend, we need to direct the measures to have a better air quality, to return to a trend towards a reduction (in pollution)," said Sheinbaum.

The measures come after an unprecedented environmental alert was issued mid-May due to high levels of PM2.5 and ozone registers in the metropolis which led to the suspension of school classes and outdoor activities.