Air Quality Index
Heavy rain clears Erbil pollution
ERBIL – Erbil has recently seen a marked improvement in air quality, thanks to significant rainfall over the past few days. This natural occurrence has effectively reduced smoke and pollutants, aligning the city’s air quality with international standards, as highlighted by various global weather platforms this Sunday.
IQAir, a prominent air quality monitoring service, reports that Erbil’s air pollution level has improved to a “good” rating of 40 on the Air Quality Index (AQI).
The AQI is a standardized measure used globally to communicate how clean or polluted the air is. Air quality is considered good with ratings between 0 and 50, moderate between 51 and 100, unhealthy for sensitive groups such as individuals with asthma between 101 and 150, and unhealthy for all when ratings reach between 151 and 200.
The major contributors to air pollution in urban areas like Erbil include emissions from the high volume of vehicles, industrial activities, and the operation of fossil fuel-based electricity generators within cities. According to the Ministry of Interior, over two million vehicles and 8,000 motorcycles are registered in the Kurdistan Region, underscoring a considerable impact on the region’s air quality.
Measures such as promoting public transportation, advancing cleaner energy solutions, and enforcing emissions standards are vital in reducing pollution levels. Though, in the interim, rainfall can provide temporary respite.