QUARTERLY REPORT JAN-MAR

Transcription

1 QUARTERLY REPORT JAN-MAR 17

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3 INTRODUCTION The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) publishes quarterly reports to present the status of air quality during three-month periods as it is monitored around Abu Dhabi Emirate. The ambient air quality monitoring network in the Abu Dhabi Emirate comprises twenty fixed stations. These stations are distributed across the emirate in Abu Dhabi city and its suburbs; Al Ain city and its suburbs; and in major towns in the Dhafra Region. These stations are strategically located to accurately capture pollutants in zones categorised as urban traffic, urban background, suburban background, suburban industrial, regional rural background, rural industrial and rural traffic. EAD also operates two mobile stations, which are usually deployed to respond to air quality emergencies or in situations where specific monitoring is required temporarily in areas that are not adequately covered by the existing network. This report discusses five criteria pollutants for which standards have been established by the federal government to protect the health of sensitive populations, such as children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems.

4 AIR QUALITY INDEX This report establishes the Air Quality Index (AQI) to evaluate air pollution. EAD simplifies the Ambient Air Quality State by calculating the AQI Range based on Air Quality National Standards, for the major five parameters; Particle matter, Ground level ozone, Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide and Carbon monoxide. AQI= Pollution concentration Air Quality Standard Note that the compliant category means AQI values below which normally expected to be satisfactory. The tables below displays Air Quality Index according to US EPA AQI classifications, and National Ambient Air Quality Standards for UAE. US EPA AQI Classifications AQI RANGE CLASSIFICATIONS CONDITIONS 0 to to 101 to to to to 500 Good Moderate Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Considered satisfactory Air quality is acceptable Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects Everyone may begin to experience health effects Health alert, meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects. Health warnings of emergency conditions. Air Quality Standards SUBSTANCE Particulate Matter (within 10 microns or less in diameter) SYMBOL MAX ALLOWABLE LIMITS AVERAGE TIME PM μg/m 3 24 hours Ozone O μg/m μg/m 3 1 hour 8 hours Sulphur Dioxide SO μg/m μg/m 3 60 μg/m 3 1 hour 24 hours 1 year Nitrogen Dioxide NO μg/m μg/m 3 1 hour 24 hours Carbon Monoxide CO 30 mg/m 3 10 mg/m 3 1 hour 8 hours

5 Air quality monitoring station in Al Ain

6 PARTICULATE MATTER PM * The federal limit is 150 μg/m³ in a twenty four-hour period Mussafah Al Mafraq Al Ain Street Al Ain Islamic Institute Zakher PM 10 or particulate matter are microscopic suspended particles that exist in the Earth`s atmosphere. The source of PM can be from nature or man-made with a size of 10 micrometers diameter or smaller. The desert environment and the frequent dust events in the region are the main contributors to the elevated PM 10 concentrations in Abu Dhabi emirate. The chart displays the percentages of compliant days that PM 10 met the federal limit during this quarter. Its appears in most of the stations that more than 70% of the operational days were compliant days, Al Ain Street station and station recorded the highest percentage through the quarter by 87%, while Al Mafraq station recorded the lowest percentage of 54%. PERCENTAGE OF COMPLIANT DAYS FOR PM 10 CONCENTRATIONS AIR QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS Percentage PM 10 Daily Average (Days in AQI) Good Moderate Unhealthy for SG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous The number shown in the stations below indicates the total days in each category Mussafah Al Mafraq Zakher Al Ain Islamic Institute Al Ain Street

7 OZONE O 03 3 *The federal limit is 120 μg/m³ in an eight-hour period Al Ain Islamic Institute Ozone is considered as a secondary pollutant typically formed by chemical reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx with the presence of sunlight. Furthermore, ground-level ozone increases in the central hours of the day hours and may found distance downwind from the sources of precursor pollutant emissions. The chart displays the percentages of compliant days that O 3 met the federal limit during this quarter. Most of the stations show compliant days more than 50% of the operational days. station recorded the highest compliant days percentages reached % of the operational days, while station recorded the lowest percentage of 42%. PERCENTAGE OF COMPLIANT DAYS FOR O 3 CONCENTRATIONS AIR QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS Percentage O 3 Daily 8-Hour Running Average (Days in AQI) The number shown in the stations below indicates the total days in each category Good Moderate Unhealthy for SG Al Ain Islamic Institute Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous

8 SULPHUR DIOXIDE SO 2 The main sources of sulphur dioxide gas could be from nature such as volcanoes, or man-made for example fuel combustion (especially high-sulphur fuel), electric utilities and industrial processes. It also contributes to human health problems like aggravates asthma and increased respiratory symptoms. The chart displays the percentages of compliant days that SO 2 met the federal limit during this quarter. All the stations shows % of the operational days were compliant days. 04Al Ain Islamic Institute * The federal limit is 150 μg/m³ in a twenty four-hour period Mussafah Al Mafraq Al Ain Street Zakher PERCENTAGE OF COMPLIANT DAYS FOR SO 2 CONCENTRATIONS AIR QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS Percentage SO 2 Daily Average (Days in AQI) Good Moderate Unhealthy for SG The number shown in the stations below indicates the total days in each category Mussafah Al Mafraq Ain Islamic Institute Zakher 89 Unhealthy AlAin Street Very Unhealthy Hazardous

9 NITROGEN DIOXIDE NO 2 Nitrogen dioxide is mainly generated from man-made activities due to the fuel combustion (e.g., electric utilities, industrial boilers, and vehicles) and wood burning. It may also cause side effects to the human health such as lung diseases. The chart displays the percentages of compliant days that NO 2 met the federal limit during this quarter. All the stations shows % of the operational days were compliant days. 05 * The federal limit is 150 μg/m³ in a twenty four-hour period Mussafah Al Mafraq Al Ain Street Al Ain Islamic Institute Zakher PERCENTAGE OF COMPLIANT DAYS FOR NO 2 CONCENTRATIONS AIR QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS Percentage NO 2 Daily Average (Days in AQI) Good Moderate Unhealthy for SG Unhealthy The number shown in the stations below indicates the total days in each category Mussafah Al Mafraq Al Ain Islamic Institute Zakher AlAin Street Very Unhealthy 89 Hazardous

10 CARBON MONOXIDE CO Carbon monoxide results from fuel combustion or especially vehicles and it is noticed that emissions of CO are related to traffic jam and cars idling. The increase in CO concentration could cause side effects to the human health such as reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the body`s organs and tissues. The chart displays the percentages of compliant days that CO met the federal limit during this quarter. All the stations shows% of the operational days were compliant days. PERCENTAGE OF COMPLIANT DAYS FOR CO CONCENTRATIONS 6 AIR QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS Al Ain Street * The federal limit is 10 mg/m³ in a eight-hour period Percentage CO Daily 8-Hour Running Average (Days in AQI) The number shown in the stations below indicates the total days in each category Good 87 Moderate Unhealthy for SG Al Ain Street Unhealthy 67 Very Unhealthy Hazardous

11 CONCLUSION Natural and man made activities are the main contributors to the air quality of Abu Dhabi. Our desert environment plays an important role in quality of the air as well. As our population grows, our contribution to the level of air quality will get affected. Together with the efforts of the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi and all government entities who do their best in monitoring and minimizing the effects of these man made activities in order to provide us with a clean environment. To sum up, the result of air quality in EAD monitoring stations during the first quarter show that most of the days PM 10 concentration was compliant in all the stations except in Al Mafraq station because it is located in industrial zone. However SO 2, NO 2 and CO were compliant in all the stations. While O 3 concentration had different pattern through this quarter, it's considerate as moderate air quality level in most of the stations, except and stations were under the federal standard limits. Besides, we can all observe our own behaviors in order to reduce our emissions for a better future.

12 COPYRIGHT Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced in any material from (including photocopying or storing in any medium by electronic means) without the written permission of the copyright holder. Application for the copyright holders written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher, in accordance with the international copyright Act 1956 and the UAE Federal Law No. (7) Of 2002, concerning copyrights and neighbouring rights, and person acting in contravention of this will be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims. Photo credit: Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi CONTACT US Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi Call us: (+971) us: customerservice@ead.ae Know more about us: Environment Agency -Abu Dhabi Environment Abu Dhabi Environment Agency -Abu Dhabi