Coronavirus impact: 60% drop in Ras Al Khaimah air pollutants

Ras Al Khaimah - The drop can be attributed to the restricted traffic movement.

There has been a 60 per cent decline in air pollutants over the last weeks in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah due to the ongoing measures to check the rapid march of Covid-19 pandemic.
"Air quality has significantly improved as per the readings of the air monitoring stations deployed across the emirate," revealed Dr Saif Al Ghais, director-general, Environment Protection and Development Authority, RAK.
"Air pollutants have dropped by 40-60 per cent and better air quality is expected in the coming days," he pointed out.
He said that the drop can be attributed to the restricted traffic movement, and reduced activities, especially in the industrial sector.
"The PM10 and PM 2.5 pollutants, resulting from dust, tiny particles, farm production, factories, and paved and unpaved roads, contribute to green gas emissions," he explained. "The burning of fossil fuels constitutes six per cent of the PM10 pollutants."
Ghais said the reported results are collected from 14 marine and air monitoring stations.
"These are added to numerous distance surveillance cameras installed in all cement factories and quarries."
The AI-operated cameras are connected to the main control room of the Environment Protection and Development Authority, RAK, he said.
"These sophisticated cameras help detect all pollutants and send instant reports on the air quality and the volume of pollutants live round-the-clock."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com 

• Ras Al Khaimah