Mexico City is suffering from dangerous amounts of pollutants that are affecting citizens' sense of smell, scientists say. The pollution has forced government officials to send warnings for citizens to stay inside and often turns the sky to a blurry yellow haze.

Mexico City is a teeming metropolis where 20 million people reside and 4 million cars are used. In a study done by scientists from Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM), tests showed that people from the polluted city had trouble distinguishing everyday smells like coffee and orange juice. Scientists added a contaminant to powdered milk to see when the subject would recognize that the substance had gone rotten.

Mexico City is one of the most populated cities in the world next to Beijing. High altitude and the surrounding mountains contain pollutants in the area at high concentrations. Surrounding snow-capped mountains can rarely be seen from top floor buildings due to the murky brown smog that hangs low above the city. It is estimated that 300 days of the year, Mexico City exceeds the ozone level standards set by the World Health Organization.

The results of living in this toxic air can be more than likely dangerous. Health officials warn of various problems such as lung infections, heart attacks, asthma and cancer.

Although the city has placed a ban on certain high pollution cars, the growing population purchases around 250,000 cars per year.

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