News
Drops in air quality triggered by South Asia’s burgeoning pollution
View(s):The Air quality Index (AQI) which was at moderate to slightly unhealthy levels across the country has got better in the past 24 hours, Sarath Premasiri, Director, Environmental Studies & Services Division of the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), said.
During the past two weeks, the AQI was not healthy except for in a few cities such as Nuwara Eliya, Kurunegala, Vavuniya, Kandy, Kegalle, Kalutara and Monaragala, but there has been an improvement since Friday night, he said.
Mr. Premasiri explained that air quality levels are dependent on wind patterns, and from November to February/March, the period of the northeast monsoons, there is a tendency for air quality to deteriorate.
Poor air quality in Colombo city
“For nine out of the 12 months of the year, air quality levels in the country remain good. During the other three months, there are days on which the AQI drops but this is dependent on pollution levels in other countries in South and Southeast Asia,” he said.
The NBRO said that moderate to slightly unhealthy levels may cause health problems for those in sensitive health groups. Symptoms may include irritation in eyes, nose and throat, chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Mr. Premasiri said that air pollution has no borders and transboundary air pollution in South Asia is a growing problem. In Sri Lanka, a drop in air quality has been recorded in the past five years and the level of awareness among the public is also growing.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), many measures have been taken to control air pollution regionally and policy instruments are in place to facilitate dialogue, cooperation, and exchange of information and experiences among countries.
These include the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution and the Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and Its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia.
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