AMAZONAS, BRAZIL — Manaus woke up covered in smoke on Wednesday (23), and air pollution levels exceeded the maximum limit on the measurement scale of the Electronic Environmental Surveillance System (Selva). Early in the morning, the southern area of the Amazonian capital recorded a concentration of 587.9 µg/m³ of particles in the air.

The figure is more than three times higher than 160 µg/m³, the maximum reference level on the scale used by Selva to classify air quality.

The system's data are monitored by the State University of Amazonas (UEA). This is the sixth episode of smoke and high pollution levels recorded in the Amazonian capital in 15 days.

According to the Manaus City Government, the smoke comes from areas affected by wildfires in several regions of the Amazon, particularly in municipalities in the Manaus Metropolitan Region and eastern Amazonas.

Air quality is considered good when the concentration of particles is between 0 and 25 µg/m³. The classification reaches very poor above 125 µg/m³, with a maximum reference level of 160 µg/m³ on the Selva scale.

Amazon Agency