YANGON: According to IQAir's air quality measurement on the afternoon of January 26 (pic), Yangon, Myanmar's commercial capital, ranked eighth in global air pollution levels. (IQAir is a free real-time air quality monitoring platform.)
Among 123 countries assessed for air quality, cities in Pakistan, India, China, Bangladesh, and Uganda recorded higher levels of air pollution compared to Myanmar, the IQAir report stated. However, Thailand's Bangkok showed lower air pollution levels than Yangon.
Within Yangon, areas like Kamaryut, Mingaladon, and Hlegu townships were reported to have air pollution levels in the orange and red categories, indicating a health hazard. This data was based on IQAir's January 26 measurements.
Myanmar, bordering countries such as Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand, faces challenges with cross-border air pollution. IQAir noted that Myanmar’s geographical location, surrounded by countries with high air pollution levels, contributes to elevated pollution levels due to transboundary haze.
IQAir also identified key contributors to air pollution in Myanmar, including forest fires, the burning of biomass, emissions from industrial facilities, and exhaust from transportation vehicles. These factors combine to degrade air quality, posing risks to public health. - Eleven Media/ANN
