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Over 4.5pc Al Ain cars exceed emission limit

AL AIN - More than 4.5 per cent of cars in Al Ain exceed the permissible environment-friendly limit of Carbon Monoxide (CO) exhaust emission. Most of them belong to private companies followed by vehicles with private ownership, according to the first phase of a study conducted by the Al Ain Food and Environment Control Centre (AAFECC).

The centre started the survey on January 6, when UAE started using unleaded petrol, with NOVA system to measure Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Horiba system to measure Hydrocarbons (HC) and CO emissions, both portable units.

Abu Dhabi and Sharjah civic bodies have also conducted similar studies. The research was aimed at figuring out the accumulative effects of exhaust emissions, to put suitable solutions to this problem and to raise the public awareness on the different environmental issues.

The study involves cross-checking the results with the data produced by the stand systems for measuring HC and CO, installed by the Abu Dhabi Oil Distribution Company (ADNOC) at the premises of Al Ain Traffic Police Department for more accuracy.

About 20 per cent of the pickup trucks, nine per cent of the saloon and four per cent of the four-wheel vehicles, which were covered by the study, produce more than the maximum limit of CO.

Some 29.9 per cent of the 197 six-cylinder cars, 20.8 per cent of the 48 eight-cylinder cars and finally 16.5 per cent the 48-cylinder cars, which were covered by the survey, also ranked above the limit of CO exhaust production.

About 42 per cent of the cars made before 1981, 33.3 per cent of those made during the period from 1981 to 1985, 26.9 per cent from 1986 to 1990, 20.8 per cent from 1991 to 1995, 10 per cent from 1996 to 2000 and finally 7.3 per cent of those cars made in the period from 2001 to 2003 go beyond the maximum limit of CO production. Cars from all brands, engine size, year of manufacturing and ownership (private, company and government) should not exceed the permissible limit of Nox emission, i.e. less than 1200 ppm.

The study, being conducted in collaboration with Federal Environment Authority, indicated that 31.6 per cent of cars made in the period from 1981 to 1985 produce Hydrocarbon (HC) that goes above the allowed limit, followed by 19.4 per cent of cars made from 1986 to 1990, 14.3 per cent for those manufactured before 1981, 11.4 per cent from 1991 to 1995 and finally 3 per cent from 1996 to 2000.

The study says that privately owned cars' emission of HC is slightly above that of the cars owned by private companies. The research has also suggested that all old and new cars should undergo annual exhaust emissions test as a prerequisite for ownership renewal.

The survey has so far covered around 500 cars, excluding models of 2001 and above, and will be completed by the end of this year.

There are around 250,000 cars registered in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi Emirate.