August 10th, 2009 @ kadraoui
BAHRAIN is to launch a nationwide study to calculate the country’s air and sea pollution levels. The eight-month project, due to begin next month, will include a complete environmental assessment of the air and sea quality, said Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife director-general Dr Adel Al Zayani. It will measure transboundary pollutants – those coming from neighbouring countries, and pollutants produced by Bahrain, mainly from automobiles and industries.
The study is the first of its kind to be conducted in Bahrain and is being rolled out in line with the country’s Economic Vision 2030. “It is a study that will calculate the accumulative impact of pollutants in air and water because we want to find out the current capacity of pollution,” he told the GDN.
“The study will show the exceeding pollutants and the impact of them. “This will be a planning tool that can be used to decide if additional industries can be accommodated in the country.” Dr Al Zayani said the study was mainly concerned with recording the total amount of pollutants in the country.
The reason given was that even if Bahrain’s industries and automobiles were individually complying with the national standards the overall amount of pollution, along with that coming from neighbouring countries, could push levels above those allowed.
“We have, for example, the problem of ozone pollution coming from neighbouring countries day and night,” explained Dr Al Zayani. “We are not isolated and we must base our calculations on what is coming to us regionally and globally.
“The study will make it clear to us our next step for managing the whole situation in the future.” Dr Al Zayani said based on the results of the study the commission may request the Industry and Commerce Ministry to only allow additional industry investors that would not contribute further to pollution levels. The commission could also request existing industries to comply with the study’s recommendations by reducing particular pollutants if they were found above the national level permitted or to help reduce the country’s overall level. Dr Al Zayani said industries asked to reduce their emissions would be given adequate time to adjust. “We must get measurements to find out what is acceptable or not acceptable and this study is our tool, he said. “We have international commitments but e ven without them we are committed to our environment. “We should comply with this standard, we need to think of our commitments to the environment and human health – every one is living on this planet and they need to be considered. “We have a big challenge facing the world of climate change and any reduction in pollutants will help.
“Human health in general is very important and also animals and plants are part of the ecosystem.” Dr Al Zayani said the commission was looking at contracting US experts to conduct the study. They would calculate and evaluate the existing data on pollutants and conduct field surveys to fill in the gaps. From this they will come up with a model that will give the maximum levels for each pollutant based on international standards. “Now we have individual information but it is scattered. “We have information for water and air but we want to update it with modern calculations,” said Dr Al Zayani. “They will propose the best standards for Bahrain and they will teach our staff also so they will be updated with the latest knowledge.”
becky@gdn.com.bh
Tags: Gulf Daily News, Pollution, Press