Claim: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has informed us that the current weather is not Harmattan, but an extreme form of air pollution that is harmful to health.
Verdict: FALSE
Context: A message widely circulated on social media claims that the current weather is not harmattan, but an extreme form of air pollution harmful to health. The message attributes the information to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and includes a list of purported health risks such as reduced lung function, respiratory infections, inflammation and oxidative stress. It also provides a series of precautionary measures, including wearing a nose mask, drinking warm water, avoiding air conditioning at night and using shea butter before bed.
Evidence: To verify the claim, Sierra Check contacted Ishmael Kindama Dumbuya, the External Relations and Advocacy Manager at the Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone (EPA-SL). He confirmed that the claim is false, stating:
“It is fake and did not come from the EPA. The same was being shared around the same time last year, and we issued a disclaimer.”
Further investigation revealed that the EPA-SL addressed similar misinformation in February 2024. On its official Facebook page, the EPA issued a statement debunking the claims:
"Our attention has been called to a notification published on social media that describes high air pollution with serious effects on human health. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA-SL) desires to alert the general public that no recent standardization was undertaken to arrive at the purportedly identified hazardous risks. The results of our initiatives shall be evidence-based and properly disseminated."
The EPA emphasized its commitment to evidence-based environmental assessments and encouraged safe practices to protect human health and ecosystems.
Conclusion: The claim that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified the current weather as extreme air pollution rather than harmattan is false. The message is part of a recurring misinformation campaign.
If you have any claims you would like us to fact-check, send a WhatsApp message to +232 78711933 or email us at Sierracheck24@gmail.com
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