The air quality in Montserrat is at an unhealthy level for sensitive groups due to a notable surge in Saharan dust, the government has said.
In a Facebook post, the Montserrat Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) warned this episode of reduced air quality is expected to last until Wednesday.
An air quality bulletin from the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services that the DMCA shared, explained that the threat of health problems is medium.
This is mainly for “unusually sensitive people”, such as asthmatics and people with other respiratory issues, allergies, cardiovascular problems and eye and skin irritations.
The dust could potentially cause “significant health impacts”, the bulletin said.
The air quality index is 100 to 140 and the alert level is three, the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services reported.
“Everyone should exercise caution, especially sensitive groups such as active children and adults,” it added.
“And people with heart or respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit time outdoors and restrict outdoor activity.”
Everyone should keep their windows and doors closed as much as possible, and wear a face-mask, rated to filter out PM 2.5, when going outside, the meteorological group said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains on its website that Saharan dust comes from the Sahara Desert in Northern Africa.
Thunderstorms and cyclones can produce high-speed winds that lift the dust and transport it thousands of miles through the air, it says.
The dust can then travel around the globe to parts of Europe, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States.
