The study is carried out with the analysis of information in real time through monitoring stations and through the online model of the University of Athens for particulate matter.

Corpoguajira tracks the passage of an air mass with dust aerosols that comes from the Sahara desert (Africa), which travels in the atmosphere over the Atlantic Ocean, directly influencing the quality of the air breathed by the inhabitants of the department of La Guajira and part of the Colombian territory.

according to forecasts, the event will run until noon Tuesday 24 May 2022.

The monitoring results produced by various air quality stations, located in the south of the Department, indicate that it has been affected with records of respirable dust that exceed the daily norm established in 75 micrograms per cubic meter.

Meanwhile, for inhalable dust, although the results are below the daily norm, there is a marked increase in their registrations.

Samuel Lanao Robles, General Manager Corpoguajira, explained that the air mass with dust aerosols coming from the Sahara desert, limits cloud formation which increases solar radiation, causing an increase in the ambient temperature and in the thermal sensation. Additionally, it indicated that “based on the follow-up carried out, We call for all the activities that generate atmospheric emissions that take place in our department to increase their controls and activate the protocols in the face of this type of event”.

The environmental authority asked the community (mainly to the inhabitants of the middle and upper Guajira) address the following recommendations:

• People with chronic respiratory conditions (like EPOC or asthma), older adults, pregnant women and children; they should refrain from leaving the houses while the high concentrations of particulate matter continue. If for any reason it becomes necessary to leave your homes, use of respiratory protectors is recommended, preferably masks with N95 filter. Wear comfortable clothes and constantly hydrate.
• Avoid unnecessary exposure to the environment while the risk situation exists.
• Cover containers that contain water for human consumption or wells from which the precious liquid is extracted, in order to avoid contamination by particulate matter.

By last, Corpoguajira recommended to be attentive to the information that continues to be generated
regarding this topic.