Qatar denies air pollution posing a threat to residents

Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality and Environment has denied that levels of air pollution in the country pose any threat to residents, Doha News reported this morning.

A report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) analysed the effect of air pollution on residents’ health in 103 countries, Qatar was ranked second highest for rates of M2.5 particles in its air, after Saudi Arabia.

Having dangerous levels of M2.5 particles in the air leaves those breathing the air more likely to catch infections and lung diseases.

While Qatar has not dismissed the WHO’s findings, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment has said that the levels of M2.5 particles pose no threat to those living in Qatar, after the report began to circulate rapidly on social media.

The ministry said that the particles that were being analysed do not qualify as air pollution and reiterated that while Qatar has high levels of particles in the air, the quality of air has “zero impact” on the health of residents.