HPA cautions public on air pollution
According to the environment ministry's website, the air is the most polluted in the country now in H.Dh. Kulhudhuffushi and L. Fonadhoo.
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Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Friday urged the public to take precautionary measures in the wake of the dust and smoke polluting the air since Thursday.
HPA made the appeal in view of the smoke and dust blowing from across the sea, creating a haze around central Maldives. In an advisory, MET said the shift in seasonal winds from west to east at the end of the south-west monsoon and on the onset of north-east monsoon bring aerosols from the Himalayan foothills across the Bay of Bengal to Maldives area.
HPA has asked to take adequate precautionary measures based on the level of air pollution. People can use the IQAir website or IQAir Visual App, which contains information about the environment ministry's air quality monitoring stations, to monitor air quality, the agency said.
Air pollution levels and health advice
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0-50 (at reasonable level) – Low risk or no danger
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51-100 (moderate) – People with respiratory problems should reduce their outdoor activities
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101-150 (at an unhealthy level for vulnerable people) - Everyone is likely to suffer from respiratory problems
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151-200 (unhealthy) – Everyone will suffer adverse effects on heart and lungs and risk of worsening the conditions
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201-300 (Very bad) – Impact can be felt by all, vulnerable people should stop going out
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300+ (dangerous) – High risk of adverse health effects, should avoid from stepping out at all
According to the environment ministry's website, the air is the most polluted n HDh. Kulhudhuffushi and L. Fonadhoo. In both islands, air purity levels were at moderate, (51-100 in the air quality index).
