On Tuesday, the environmental monitoring platform IQAir warned that air quality in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, has reached levels harmful to health due to the high concentration of PM2.5 particulate matter.

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According to the reported data, the city has a concentration of 71.5 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) of PM2.5, a figure that far exceeds international recommendations for air quality.

PM2.5 are microscopic particles from vehicle emissions, forest fires, burning trash, industries, and chemical processes, capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the bloodstream.

Specialists warn that this pollution represents a serious risk to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, aggravating conditions such as asthma.

The current index is categorized as “unhealthy,” especially for vulnerable groups: children, the elderly, and people with heart or lung diseases.

Pollution in Tegucigalpa has intensified in recent weeks due to forest fires, high temperatures, and smoke accumulation over the Honduran metropolis.

Given this situation, authorities recommended avoiding strenuous outdoor physical activity, staying indoors with doors and windows closed, and using high-efficiency N95 or FFP2 masks if going outside.

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