Air quality deterioration: No effect to everyday public life - CEA

The ongoing air pollution condition in Colombo city has no effect on the everyday life of the general public, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) said.

“It is deemed that this condition had occurred as a result of air pollutants that swept across with winds from the Northern hemisphere near the equator.

“When analysing the Air Quality Index (AQI), the CEA uses methods in accordance with the international standards through which data are collected from the Air Quality Monitoring Units consisting ultra-modern technological analyses which had been purchased in line with Vehicle Emission Testing Program,” the CEA said.

“These units are situated in Battaramulla and Kandy. Measuring instruments in those Monitoring Units, automatically analyse and compile the mean concentration of five air pollutants every 5 minutes, 1 hour, 8 hours and 24 hours respectively.

“We are working cooperatively with the Department of Meteorology in order to conduct further investigations to discover the real cause behind the increase of AQI on November 5 and 6,” it said.

The CEA informed the public not to panic since the condition of polluted air which affected Sri Lanka for at least two days has dissipated and the quality of air is improving.

The CEA will take necessary steps to inform the public immediately if any change occurred. (Sheain Fernandopulle)