Hongo de contaminación

Question

I was trying to look up the word for smog, and one of the results was "hongo de contaminación", which I believe translates (literally) to "mushroom of pollution". Is this phrase ever really used, or is the translation "niebla tóxica" generally used?

Answer 1

This is possibly a regional usage, but in Mexico City - the most polluted city in the world - "pollution" is "contaminación." The "hongo" part is not common, but it would certainly be understandable.

"I have occasionally heard people say "smog," but obviously this is an English word spoken by people who may or may not speak English while trying to be trendy.

Answer 2

I think 'smog' is used in Spanish too with niebla contaminada perhaps being another option. As far as I know in the context of contaminants etc hongo would likely be translated as fungus but do wait for a native speaker.

Answer 3

I was riding in a bus yesterday when the driver said, "Hay mucha niebla aquí" meaning "There's a lot of smog here."

P.s. In Guatemala