Male’ Air Quality Hits Unhealthy Levels This Morning

Inhalable particle matter (PM) in Male’ at 10 AM today stood at three times higher than the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) amount, according to the air quality data from the Centre for Maritime Studies by Maldives National University.

The data collected by the air quality sensor in Vilimale by CMS was at 38 µg /m3 at this time. The recommended PM2.5 amount by WHO is 15 µg /m3 for a 24-hour period

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CMS website notes the air quality today is unhealthy for sensitive groups and recommends reducing outdoor exercise, closing windows to prevent dirty air from coming indoors, running an air purifier in addition to exercising caution and wearing a mask outdoors.

Check out the monthly air quality report for the sensor located at the @MNUedu Centre for Maritime Studies in Villimale’ for December 2024 and follow the sensor at https://t.co/yut6SAt8Ek pic.twitter.com/0V5GBGNR0W— Min. of Climate Change, Environment and Energy (@MoEnvmv) January 5, 2025

The main pollutants identified by WHO that disrupt the outside air quality are inhalable particle matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (SO2). The monthly air quality report for December 2024 by CMS shows the worst air quality was recorded on December 2, with PM levels at 43.5 µg /m3.

Their report showed the air quality was moderate in December, with recorded PM2.5 levels of 17.3 µg /m3. This was an increase in PM2.5 levels from the previous month, which recorded 15.5 µg /m3. Fifteen days of December recorded moderate air quality, while 14 days had good air quality, and two days had bad air quality.

The PM2.5 levels in December of 2023 were higher at 25.4 µg/m3.