Quţūr Air Quality Index (AQI)

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Quţūr, nestled within Egypt’s Al Gharbīyah Governorate, occupies a crucial position in the Nile Delta, approximately 100km northeast of Cairo. The city’s coordinates (30.9765, 30.9532) place it within a remarkably flat alluvial plain, a landscape sculpted over millennia by the Nile’s annual floods. Elevation is minimal, averaging just a few meters above sea level, making it highly susceptible to humidity and the effects of regional weather systems. Quţūr’s urban character is typical of the Delta – a dense network of agricultural land interspersed with small to medium-sized towns. The surrounding landscape is dominated by intensely cultivated fields, primarily rice, cotton, and wheat, alongside fruit orchards. This intensive agriculture contributes significantly to local air quality concerns through the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and biomass burning of agricultural waste. The proximity to the Nile itself offers some degree of natural ventilation, but also contributes to high humidity which can trap pollutants. A gradual urban-rural gradient exists, with air quality generally worsening closer to the city centre due to increased traffic and localized industrial activity, such as small-scale brick kilns and food processing facilities. The Delta’s limited topographic variation hinders the dispersion of pollutants, exacerbating air quality challenges.

Quţūr experiences a Mediterranean-influenced climate with a pronounced dry season (May to October) and a relatively mild, wet winter (November to April). Air quality in Quţūr typically deteriorates during the winter months. Cooler temperatures lead to increased use of solid fuels for heating, contributing to particulate matter pollution. Temperature inversions, common during stable winter conditions, trap pollutants near the ground, reducing dispersion. The dry season brings increased dust and sandstorms, originating from the Sahara Desert to the west, significantly elevating PM10 levels. Agricultural burning of rice straw after harvest, peaking in October and November, is a major contributor to seasonal smog. Summer months generally offer better air quality due to prevailing winds and higher temperatures promoting pollutant dispersion, though ozone formation can be a concern with increased sunlight. Sensitive groups – children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions – should limit outdoor activity during peak pollution periods in winter and following agricultural burning. Avoiding outdoor exertion during sandstorm events is also crucial. The spring months (March-April) generally present the most favourable conditions for outdoor activities.