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Lanka faces air quality crisis; respiratory ailments may intensify
View(s):Polluted air from north Indian regions, emissions from faulty overused vehicles, and poor quality of fuel will have a major impact on the country’s air quality in the coming months, experts warn.
“From November to March, polluted air flows into the country (transboundary air pollution) mainly from northern regions of India and possibly from Bangladesh and China as well. For the past two years, pollution levels were low due to the pandemic-led lockdowns. However, this year air pollution will be in full effect,” National Building Research Organisation’s (NBRO) Air Quality Unit senior scientist H.D.S. Premasiri said.
In Indian cities, especially New Delhi, the Air Quality Index (AQI) level or the particulate matter 2.5 has reached between 400 and 565 — hazardous level — this week. In Colombo, at present, the AQI stands at a moderate level of 72, which means the air quality is not bad but a small group of sensitive people may experience difficulty in breathing or see their respiratory illnesses intensify.
Mr. Premasiri said transboundary air pollution would account for more than 50 percent of the country’s air pollution during the next few months.
“Sri Lanka is yet to address transboundary air pollution. There is a need for international collaboration to keep air pollution in South Asian regions under control. Plans are underway to renew the 24-year-old Male Declaration that has been inactive for many years,” said Dr. R.M.S.K. Ratnayake, Environment Pollution Control Director of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA).
The Male Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia is an intergovernmental network involving Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Vehicle import restrictions due to the forex crisis and its impact on prices of spare parts are also contributing to air pollution, Dr. Ratnayake said.
“At present 60 percent of local air pollution contributors are vehicles. Due to import restrictions, most people are exhausting their vehicles and reluctant to fix issues or replace parts due to skyrocketing prices of spare parts. Faulty overused vehicles and poor quality of fuel mainly contribute to air pollution,” he said.
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