Hazardous Air Pollutants in the United Arab Emirates

Hazardous air pollutants in the United Arab Emirates
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Table of Contents
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Hazardous Air Pollutants in the United Arab Emirates  PAGEREF _Toc407780921 \h
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1.0 Introduction  PAGEREF _Toc407780922 \h
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1.1 Background  PAGEREF _Toc407780923 \h
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1.2 Motivation  PAGEREF _Toc407780924 \h
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1.3 Aim and objectives  PAGEREF _Toc407780925 \h
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1.4 Scope and limitation  PAGEREF _Toc407780926 \h
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2.0 Literature review  PAGEREF _Toc407780927 \h
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2.1 Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)  PAGEREF _Toc407780928 \h
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2.2 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)  PAGEREF _Toc407780929 \h
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2.3 Total Suspended Particles (PM10)  PAGEREF _Toc407780930 \h
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2.4 Carbon Monoxide (CO)  PAGEREF _Toc407780931 \h
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2.5 Ozone (O3)  PAGEREF _Toc407780932 \h
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2.6 Greenhouse gases (GHG)  PAGEREF _Toc407780933 \h
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3.0 Problem description  PAGEREF _Toc407780934 \h
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4.0 Methodology/data collection  PAGEREF _Toc407780935 \h
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4.1 Departments working at the National Bureau of Statistics  PAGEREF _Toc407780936 \h
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4.2 Semi-official and official institutions and association concerned with the environment  PAGEREF _Toc407780937 \h
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4.3 Surveys  PAGEREF _Toc407780938 \h
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5.0 Data analysis  PAGEREF _Toc407780939 \h
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6.0 Results and discussion  PAGEREF _Toc407780940 \h
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7.0 Conclusions  PAGEREF _Toc407780941 \h
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8.0 References  PAGEREF _Toc407780942 \h
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9.0 Appendix  PAGEREF _Toc407780943 \h
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9.1 Appendix 1: Copy of the questionnaire survey questions  PAGEREF _Toc407780944 \h
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Hazardous Air Pollutants in the United Arab Emirates
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background
The majority of air pollution is as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels. These contaminants or pollutants could come directly from a tailpipe or smokestack, or they might come from a chemical reaction between sunlight and these emissions. Hazardous air pollutants consist of the following: ozone (O3); particulates; poisonous gases for instance nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide; compounds which react with water in the earth’s atmosphere thereby forming acids; greenhouse gases; and heavy metals (Absal, 2009). In addition, burning of forests and other plant materials emits similar gaseous pollutants. Several cities in the United Arab Emirates are afflicted with air pollution. Many people in the UAE breathe polluted air. As the United Arab Emirate’s population keeps increasing, there are more industries and more cars that actually increase quantity of air pollutants in the country. Far-reaching solutions are needed in this country to ensure that air quality improves (Absal, 2009).
1.2 Motivation
I was motivated to investigate the hazardous air pollutants in the United Arab Emirates primarily because of the adverse impacts that these pollutants could have not just on human health, but also on the environment. I wanted to find out how the different emirates in the UAE contribute to air pollution and to learn the rates of hazardous air pollutants in the country over the years – whether they are increasing or declining – and which pollutant is actually the most commonly emitted in the UAE. I also wanted to find out the main sources of air pollutants in the country and the various ways in which the hazardous air pollutants in the United Arab Emirates could be reduced and in so doing reduce their environmental impact and impact on human health.
1.3 Aim and objectives
Aim: To examine the problem of air contamination in the UAE. The objectives are:
To examine the hazardous air pollutant in the United Arab Emirates
To provide data on the environmental contaminants by types, sources, and describe their environmental impact
To provide information to help reduce the hazardous air pollutants in the United Arab Emirates.
1.4 Scope and limitation
The scope of this study includes the hazardous air pollutant in the UAE; types and sources of air pollutants in the UAE; the environmental and health impacts of these air pollutants; and measures that can be undertaken to reduce these air pollutants in the country. The limitation of this study is that collection of data of all the major air pollutants was hampered by a limited number of monitoring stations; for instance, there are actually a few monitoring stations in the United Arab Emirates that measure the CO pollutant (Al Suwaidi, 2012).
2.0 Literature review
Air pollution, according to Todorova (2014), is the presence of polluting or contaminant elements in the air which do not disperse appropriately and which actually interfere with human welfare or human health, adversely affect the environment, or produce other detrimental effects. The main air pollutants are as follows:
2.1 Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
SO2 is generally generated due to the burning of fuels containing sulphur and the key sources of this pollution include motor vehicles, power plants, as well as smelting furnaces (Veetil, 2014). Sulphur Dioxide air pollution has adverse effects on human health. For instance, SO2 is known to irritate the sensitive tissues in the mouth, eyes, and nose. It also causes inflammation of the bronchi, lung disease, and heart disease (Al Suwaidi, 2012).
2.2 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
A major source of Nitrogen Oxides includes motor vehicles as well as combustion at stationary sources of pollutants. Nitrogen Oxides air pollutants reduces lung functioning, bring about irritation of bronchi in children, and create some risk if people with asthma are exposed to air polluted with this contaminant (Al Suwaidi, 2012).
2.3 Total Suspended Particles (PM10)
PM10 consist of liquid and solid particles of less than 10 microns in diameter. The major sources of this pollutant include dust that is raised naturally and from unpaved roads, forest fires, fuel combustion in stationary sources and industries, as well as from motor vehicles (Al Suwaidi, 2012). This pollutant has a significant impact on human health considering that high concentration of soft sand and dust in the air affects human eyes and can bring about diseases like trachoma, in addition to some allergic and respiratory illnesses (Todorova, 2014).
2.4 Carbon Monoxide (CO)
This is an odorless and bland gas that does not have any color, and is emitted during the process of partial oxidation – partial combustion of carbon –, as well as when organic compounds like coal are burnt. On the whole, carbon monoxide is an extremely poisonous gas and its main sources include water heaters that use gas, stoves, dryers, boats that have engines, wooden furnaces, in addition to powered scooters (Al Suwaidi, 2012). CO is very toxic as it binds with blood hemoglobin in the lungs when inhaled and prevents the translocation of oxygen to the tissues and cells (Vallero, 2007).
2.5 Ozone (O3)
This contaminant is basically a molecule that is made up of oxygen atoms which are connected to each other. Ozone is typified by fast interaction as well as low stability and is found largely in the stratosphere – upper part of the earth’s atmosphere – although it could also be found in the lower atmosphere (Al Suwaidi, 2012). The ozone found in the lower part of the earth’s atmosphere is called ground/bad ozone formed as a result of industrial emissions and vehicle emissions. There are several health impacts of air polluted with ozone; the polluted air causes lung disease, reduces lung functioning, causes asthma, and results in bronchi, throat, as well as eye irritation (Vallero, 2007).
2.6 Greenhouse gases (GHG)
GHGs are understood as gases which trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. These gases mostly include methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrus oxide (N2O), as well as fluorinated gases (Absal, 2009). Methane is released in the production and transport of oil, natural gas, and coal. It is also emitted from livestock; and through the decaying of organic waste inside municipal solid waste landfills. Carbon dioxide is released when fossil fuels – oil, natural gas, and coal –, wood products, and solid waste are burned (Veetil, 2014). Nitrous oxide is released during industrial and agricultural activities, as well as in combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels. Fluorinated gases are powerful synthetic GHGs such as perfluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride released from various industrial processes (Absal, 2009).
3.0 Problem description
The United Arab Emirates consists of 7 sovereign and independent emirates of Fujairah, Umm A-Qiwain, Ajman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al-Khaimah. Generally, air pollution in the United Arab Emirates is good. However, as the country grows – population increase and growing number of motor vehicles – the issue actually needs more attention (Todorova, 2014). Essentially, a growing number of vehicles in the UAE are actually pushing the amount of air pollutants to dangerous levels. The UAE has great cities that are growing and whenever there is growth in human activity, there is actually an increase in pollution – some industrial activities and driving a car are known to contribute to an increase in the rate of air pollutants in the UAE. It is of essence to learn about the way that hazardous air pollutants in the UAE are human activities’ related, as well as the various processes that are contributing to the creation of these air contaminants in the atmosphere, and what can be undertaken to decrease these contaminants in the air.
4.0 Methodology/data collection
Quantitative research method is utilized. Gathering of primary data was done by using semi-structured questionnaire surveys. The questionnaire contained a mix of open-ended and closed-ended questions. Secondary data collection entailed the use of data that had been collected by agencies or individuals for purposes not the same as the purpose of my specific research study. The secondary data for this study was obtained from (i) international and national institutions, and the useful sources included university research reports, as well as articles and journals; and (ii) government statistics including statistics on pollutants in the UAE. Achieving the objectives of this study entailed collecting the available data from a variety of sources described below.
4.1 Departments working at the National Bureau of Statistics
Data was gathered from some departments where some of the environmental indicators are computed. These departments include the Department of Agriculture and Environment Statistics; Department of Information Technology; Department of Population and Social Statistics; and Department of Economic Statistics.
4.2 Semi-official and official institutions and association concerned with the environment
In the UAE, the environment statistics division obtains the environment statistics data from different institutions of the government and semi-official institutions and associations that work in the field of environment. The latest information pertaining to hazardous air pollutants in the United Arab Emirates was obtained from this source. This information was then inserted in a table and was checked with competent authorities to ensure that the figures are free from error.
4.3 Surveys
A survey on the environment was carried out that included 20 participants from the construction, transport, and energy sectors and it covered the following emirates: Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, Umm Al Qiwain, Ajman, and Sharjah. The data of the surveys was collected through the use of questionnaire.
5.0 Data analysis
MS Excel was employed in the analysis of the data gathered using survey questionnaire. Reponses of the questionnaire were transferred manually into a spreadsheet. Tables and charts are drawn to illustrate the findings of the research project.
Table 1: Responses to the questionnaire
Responses to the questionnaire1Concentration of hazardous air pollutants in the UAECO, NO2, SO2 below allowable limit; GHGs, PM10 exceed allowable limit;2Air pollutants being emitted increasingly in the UAEGHGs, PM10, NO23Impact of hazardous air pollutants in the UAEIrritate the sensitive tissues in the mouth, eyes, and nose; cause inflammation of the bronchi; cause lung disease, trachoma, heart disease, asthma, allergic and respiratory illnesses. 4Main sources of air pollutants in the UAEIndustrial processes, driving, energy sector, waste.5What government can do to reduce emission of these air pollutantsImplement policies to prevent these air pollutants from getting into the atmosphere by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and phasing in alternative sources of energy such as nuclear or solar6What people can do individually to red...