Although the amount of particulate matter suspended in the air has decreased in La Guajira, corresponding to the first air mass that reached the country from the Sahara, a second wave is expected to arrive next weekend.

Riohacha, 25 de junio de 2020

The Sahara Air Layer or Sarahan Air Layer (SAL), for its acronym in English, it is a very dry and dust-laden mass of air from the Sahara Desert that occurs especially in late spring, during the summer and the autumn stage, in the Northern Hemisphere and usually moves west with a periodicity that ranges from 3 and 5 días.

These days the advance of tropical waves from the African coast and along the tropical zone, have favored the increase in dust from the Sahara in the Colombian Caribbean, for this reason, It is possible that in some sectors of La Guajira the sky is observed with misty shades, making it difficult in some cases to see in the morning or late afternoon..

During the last days, the air quality measurement stations installed by Corpoguajira, have recorded increases in particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10), exceeding the rates contemplated in the Resolution 2254 of 2017 issued by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Avoid exposing yourself to high concentrations of dust from the Sahara.
• It is recommended to take shelter during the probable occurrence of this class of phenomena.
• Close doors and windows of houses and / or apartments in case of a considerable increase in particulate matter.
• To people with chronic respiratory diseases (EPOC, asthma), older adults, pregnant women and children, respiratory protectors such as masks are recommended.
• When feeling the presence of foreign bodies in the eyes, it is recommended to wash with abundant drinking water, boiled or chlorinated. It is important to wash your hands before starting the procedure.
• Cover water sources like wells, storage containers or ponds to avoid contamination.
• Continuously use personal protection means such as glasses, tapabocas, or damp cloth handkerchief to cover nose and mouth.
• Before sweeping, moisten the areas of your house to avoid the suspension of dust that could accumulate.
• It is recommended to be attentive to the development of air navigation in the country and take the necessary measures.