Colombo air quality to be unhealthy again tomorrow

• People with heart or lung disease, children, older adults, and people who are active outdoors are considered sensitive

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

Sensitive people are advised to be mindful of the likely unhealthy air quality in the Colombo area tomorrow, according to data on Airvisual.com, National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) Air Quality Unit Senior Scientist H.D.S. Premasiri said.    

According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, when Air Quality Index (AQI) values are between 101 and 150, members of sensitive groups might experience health effects, but the general public was unlikely to be affected.   

“People with heart or lung disease, children, older adults, and people who are active outdoors are considered sensitive and therefore at greater risk,” it said.   
“Everyone may begin to experience health effects when AQI values are between 151 and 200 and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects in such a situation,” it adds.  Mr Premasiri told the Daily Mirror a condition of air quality being unhealthy was experienced yesterday as well, which gradually returned to normalcy.  Airvisual.com said the air quality was 165, 128 and 99 according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 8.30 am, 9.30 am and 1.30 pm respectively yesterday.