• Home

UAE has very low mortality from pollution: WHO

A WHO report says the UAE has a very low mortality resulting from environmental consequences such as air pollution compared to other countries in the region.

The greenery in the UAE helps improve the quaiity of air.  - File photo

Dubai - It’s safe to breathe the air in the UAE. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, we’re within the ‘green zone’.

A WHO report for the Eastern Mediterranean, Regional Strategy for Health and Environment 2014-2019, has noted that “the UAE has a very low mortality resulting from environmental consequences such as air pollution compared to other countries in the region”.

Fahad Mohammed Hareb, Director of the Ministry of Environment and Water’s Air Quality Department, said: “The country’s PM (particulate matter) level is 2.5, and did not exceed an annual concentration of 30g/m3 comparable to the WHO guidelines.”

The ministry has signed a contract with Masdar Institute of Science and Technology to study the relationship between fine particles with diameters less than 10m and less than 2.5 microns in addition to air quality monitoring via satellite.

World over though, and according to the WHO, in 2012, nearly 4.3 million deaths were caused by poor indoor air quality (IAQ). The WHO report also said that deaths due to poor quality air are greater than the deaths due to AIDS, diabetes and road accidents, combined.

Here in the UAE, the Ministry of Environment and Water is keeping a watch on things. They’ve developed systems to evaluate the environmental impact of certain projects. The cabinet has taken decisions for regulating crusher and quarrying operations and cement and asbestos production — so called ‘activities of special nature which affect air quality’.

Air monitor stations

Hareb said air quality is one of the leading priorities under the UAE’s National Agenda. “There are currently 46 air quality monitoring stations in the UAE, in addition to a range of dust monitoring stations in crusher and quarry sites as well as cement factories. The UAE has directed special attention towards the development of legislative frameworks necessary to reduce pollutants and emissions in order to improve air quality.”

According to Hareb, the UAE’s air quality is exposed to many natural and man-made pressures. Development factors include increase in the number of industrial facilities, rise in energy and water consumption, growth in the number of vehicles, population and demand.

Owing to the UAE’s climate, electricity consumption for air-conditioning consumes over 51 per cent of a building’s annual electricity consumption.

The exhaust from cars and other vehicles are the next biggest contributor to air emissions in the UAE, followed by manufacturing industries. Measures are being undertaken by the authorities concerned to reduce emissions and improve the air quality. Air Quality Index and Index of Particulate Matter are the two main yardsticks of clean air.

The ministry has also recently signed an agreement with seven governmental agencies for the launch of the UAE Air Quality Network. The availability of the network allows for more concise monitoring and the agreement aims to improve air quality by reducing emissions from fixed sources, as well as moving sources such as from transportation.

 Natural gas vs. diesel

Technical regulations, standards and guides for auto conversion to natural gas have been planned and developed. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) is set to convert around 2,900 public transport buses and taxis in Abu Dhabi and opening 16 refuelling stations. Additionally, Emirates Transport has converted over 1,600 taxis of various types and sizes to operate on natural gas, and work is currently underway to introduce hybrid vehicles (cars running on both gasoline and electricity) as well as plug-in Electric Vehicles to the UAE market to cut down emissions.

“The country attaches great importance on improving air quality by achieving 90 per cent of the WHO Air Quality guidelines as a target by 2021,” said Hareb. -reporters@khaleejtimes.com