Worst air pollution Mbandaka, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Mbandaka is fair. AQI, PM2.5, O3, HCHO, and PM1 are fair; PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (PM1: 26.8/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Mbandaka is fair. PM2.5 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 28.5/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Mbandaka's air quality reflects the flat Congo Basin equatorial position at 311 metres on the Congo River, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the charcoal burning, fishing, and agricultural corridor contributing local sources. The equatorial climate's extraordinary rainfall provides highly effective atmospheric cleansing, while the surrounding Congo rainforest creates the world's most extraordinary natural air filtration context and Mbandaka generally maintains among Africa's cleaner major river city environments outside dry season biomass burning periods.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 06:00
AQI:
Fair
26.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
20.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
20.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
22.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
26.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Fair
28.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
28.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
22.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
20.4/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Mbandaka right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Mbandaka is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 26.8/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (PM1: 26.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Mbandaka?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Mbandaka will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 28.5/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 28.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Mbandaka?
In Mbandaka, vehicle traffic, farming and agricultural processing, together with charcoal and wood-burning are the main local sources, with conditions worsening when the colder winter months arrive. Residential heating through the colder months is a major seasonal source of particulates. This is far less of a factor once the heating season ends.
Are air quality levels in Mbandaka based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?
Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.
During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.
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