By Belize Live News Staff: The Department of the Environment (DOE) within the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change is advancing its national air quality monitoring program. This year, the DOE has expanded its efforts by implementing passive ambient air quality monitoring in all six districts of Belize, including Belize City, Orange Walk Town, and Belmopan City. The program collects baseline data on key pollutants like nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, and ground-level ozone.
In 2023, the DOE acquired Dust Sentry Pro-active air quality monitoring equipment, which was installed at its Belmopan City office to monitor particulate matter (PM). PM consists of small particles in the atmosphere that can cause respiratory issues.
With support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Climate Promise Project, the DOE has now acquired an AEROQUAL AQM 65 system. This system will be installed in the Valley of Peace Community and is capable of measuring particulate matter in three different sizes (1µm/m³, 3.5µm/m³, and 10µm/m³) and key gases like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and sulfur dioxide. The real-time data generated will be accessible to the public via a Belize Weather app to be launched soon by the National Meteorological Service.
A training session is being held today with key agencies, including the Ministry of Health, Pesticides Control Board, University of Belize, and the National Biodiversity Office, on the operation and maintenance of the AEROQUAL AQM 65 system. Experts from ITS Technologies and the system manufacturer will conduct the training to ensure optimal functionality and reliability.
This initiative aligns with Goal 8-Target 8.1.1 of Belize’s National Environmental Action Plan, aiming to establish a comprehensive air quality monitoring network to protect public health and ecosystems, especially during periods of heavy smoke which affect various districts during the dry season.
For more information, please contact:
DOE Public Relations Office
Email: pr@doe.bz
Phone: +501-822-2548
