Nouakchott - 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?
Seasonal allergies can flair during the winter months when sand from the Sahara blows in. Air quality is fine for most of the year but there are definitely days when the AQI can be some of the worst in the world. It is solely from sand/dust. Man-made pollution isn’t really an issue. - Jan 2023
Sand and dust is a problem, especially during Harmattan. It's seasonal though and not always an issue. - Aug 2021
Very dusty and not great air quality. - Aug 2021
Air is ok in Nouakchott, dusty sandstorms (Harmattans) that are seasonal bring lots of dust but these are only during the spring and not numerous. We did not have any allergies in Nouakchott due to the arid climate and the air pollution did not affect us. - Sep 2020
Dusty. Some people here have air purifiers which tend to work pretty well if you are very sensitive. - Apr 2019
Very dusty. It's difficult to open the windows in the winter (you wouldn't want to in the summer because of the heat) because so much dust would accumulate in your house. On some days it's so hazy the sun is almost obscured. But it's not like that every day. - May 2016
Air quality is okay - lots of dust. No industry to speak of but they do burn trash at times. - Dec 2015
Poor. The air in Nouakchott is awful. Dry, dusty conditions can make fecal matter airborne causing stomach problems for those not accustomed to it. Dust is everywhere. You cannot keep the dust out of your house or apartment. - Apr 2014
Moderate air quality. Dust/dirt/sand are omnipresent since Nouakchott is on the edge of the Sahara Desert. - Aug 2011
