Lusaka - Post Report Question and Answers

What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?

Mostly great, sometimes when it's getting chilly you'll notice more wood burning, or sometimes just trash burning. It really depends on your neighbors. - Mar 2022


Air quality is pretty good, although it gets quite dry during dry season and the smell of burning trash is not pleasant. - Dec 2021


Overall the air quality is good, although I've never seen an AQI reading for Lusaka. The problems are localized to trash-burning neighbors. I wouldn't say it's bad enough to affect your health. - Feb 2018


Usually, the "winter" (March-August/July) is my favorite as it is nice and cool in the mornings and evenings and is just a little warm during the day. September - November is hot, dusty and can be miserable for people with migraines/sinuses/respiratory issues. Lots of burning from September-November, then the rains come and they cannot burn anymore and it's a relief. - Nov 2017


During the rainy season, it's usually pretty good, with the wind and rain sweeping pollutants out of the air from November to March/April. Dry season can bring up lots of dust and swirl around smoke from persistent trash-burning, causing respiratory problems for some folks. Outside Lusaka, there are few issues. - Jan 2017


The air quality is pretty bad. Folks burn trash all day long, and the dust from the dirt roads is horrible. If you're a walker or runner, you will be affected more. - Jun 2016


The air quality is good during the rainy season but can be quite dusty during the dry season. The air can also get smoky when the temperature dips below the 60s as local people burn garbage. - May 2016


The air quality is good for the most part. But during the dry season people burn grasses, yard debris and fields to promote new growth and the smoldering of whatever is buring can be pretty unpleasant and lingering. - Mar 2015


Very dry and dusty - it bothers some of my family members but not all; It is bad when people start burning grass. - Aug 2014


Unhealthy to moderate. Locals are burning trash all the time...the Blue Taxi's are spitting crud out non-stop. - Jan 2014


Air quality is generally good, but during the dry season it can be very dusty and very arid. Those with hayfever and pollen allergies seem to have some difficulty during certain times of the year. - Apr 2013


It varies with the season. Sometimes it's fine, but during the burning season (June, July) it can be really smoky in places. Also, many cars and apparently all buses are completely without proper exhaust systems so there's alot of car exhaust in the air downtown. - Jul 2010


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