The air quality monitoring organization IQAir recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) level of 104 for Yangon, indicating conditions that “may be harmful to health,” on Wednesday.
“There’s this strong, acrid smell, and when you walk around Kandawgyi Lake, you can’t even breathe properly,” a resident of Myanmar’s largest city told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Kandawgyi Lake is located in its namesake park where residents go for morning walks and exercise.
An AQI level of 104 falls within the orange category, which means it can pose health risks to the elderly, children and people with respiratory disease, according to IQAir.
IQAir states that it measures particulate matter, or PM, in Yangon’s air in five locations, including the embassies of the U.S. and Germany, using air quality measurement devices.
“The updraft is weak due to colder air during the cold season, causing PM2.5, PM10, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide to remain closer to the ground,” Win Naing, an independent meteorologist, told DVB.
He added that particulate matter with diameters of 2.5 and 10 micrometers or smaller can cause respiratory problems. Yangon residents reported the same problem to DVB in February 2025 when they woke up with breathing difficulties.
