For most parts of the country, the concentrations of pollutants in indoor and outdoor air are slightly above or within safe limits of national air quality standards, but above for indicative levels of the World Health Organization. Exposures are particularly higher in urban than rural areas of the country.

Air quality assessments by ground-level monitoring stations and satellite sensing indicate that particulate matter and nitrogen oxides are the main ambient air pollutants that regularly exceed standards that protect human health. Nitrogen oxides are high and above standards near congested roads, especially in Kigali city, while background particulate concentrations are high both in rural and urban areas of the country.

There are a set of actions – both collective and individual, that can help improve the quality of air we breathe. 

• Use less biomass (charcoal, firewood) and avoid open burning
• Use less polluting domestic stoves; opt for alternative fuels such as gas or electricity;
• When purchasing a new car, consider one that is the most efficient, lowest-polluting vehicle or even a zero-emission electric car.
• Instead of driving, walk or ride a bicycle whenever possible
• Consider using public transport rather than individual cars
• When driving, accelerate gradually and obey the speed limit. Drive less, particularly on days with unhealthy air quality levels or in hours of potential heavy traffic;.
• Regularly maintain your vehicle and keep the tires properly inflated.
• Turn off the lights when you leave your room or office. Also turn off office equipment, computers, printers and fax machine, before leaving office
• Replace energy-hungry incandescent lights with compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Limit the use of air conditioners both at work and at home and opt for natural ventilation