19082009

AMMAN - Air pollution in certain locations in the capital, Zarqa and Irbid are above the limits allowed by Jordanian and European standards, according to a national survey that attributed the spike to heavy industrial activity and traffic movement.

The survey is part of the Air Quality Monitoring Project, which entails drawing up maps of the percentages and concentrations of air pollutants in Amman, Zarqa and Irbid.

"Initial results of the survey showed that pollution concentrations in the air are within the limits allowed by Jordanian and European standards, except for some spots that witness heavy industrial activities and traffic movement," Minister of Environment Khalid Irani said yesterday.

The Air Quality Monitoring Project, which is the first of its kind in Jordan and the region, is being carried out by a joint team from Jordan and France and is supported by the French Development Agency, according to the minister.

"The project will allow us to determine the status of air pollution in the three cities by installing air monitoring screens at 12 locations. Seven devices will be installed in Amman, three in Zarqa and two in Irbid," Irani noted.

The minister added that the screens will be located in accordance with scientific foundations in a way that ensures accurate measurement of the emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen, particles in the air and ozone concentrations.

Based on the readings provided by the air monitoring devices, the ministry will draw up scientific plans and programmes to limit such emissions and improve the air quality in areas witnessing high pollution rates, Irani said.

"By the end of this year, our teams will install the air monitoring screens, under the second phase of the project," he said.

A recent environmental analysis indicated that Jordan's vehicular fleet, which increases annually by 7 per cent and is largely dominated by old-technology cars emitting excessive gases, is the main source of rising air pollution.

Power generation and industries such as mining and cement production are also worsening the country's air quality, which the study described as "poor and deteriorating".


http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=19315