Abu Dhabi has expanded a programme aimed at improving air quality in the emirate.
Experts from Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) have joined the World Health Organisation’s Global Air Pollution and Health Technical Advisory Group.
They now sit on two working groups – one focused on dust, sand and health and the other on policy interventions.
It is hoped the knowledge gained in the groups can help the emirate continue recent strides made to improve air quality.
In the past year, our air quality on 83 per cent of the days had good or moderate air quality
Ruqaya Mohamed,
Environment Agency Abu Dhabi
Air quality is not only affected by pollutants, but also by ozone, dust and sand, which can pick up and carry other contaminants on the way.
A network of 22 air monitors across the emirate, 20 of which are fixed while two are mobile, assess what is coming from where to help regulate it.
“In the past year, our air quality on 83 per cent of the days had good or moderate air quality, which is green and yellow and relatively healthy for the general population,” Ruqaya Mohamed, section manager, air quality, noise and climate change at EAD told The National.
“Of course, we have those days where we have peaks of dust and also sometimes ozone. These two particular pollutants are largely affected by the regional climate and natural sources.”
The emirate’s air monitors track 14 pollutants to check how healthy or unhealthy the air is.
That data is then fed into a publicly available Abu Dhabi air quality dashboard where people can see for themselves if it is safe to spend time outdoors.
On Friday, the dashboard showed that many areas of the emirate were classed as green on the index, meaning the air posed no health concern.
Days when the air quality is particularly poor air are often the result of dust, sand and ground level ozone, Ms Mohamed said.
“When we say ozone, most people focus on the hole in the ozone layer, but there is also ozone at the level we breathe. This is one of the pollutants we monitor,” she said.
“The difference between ozone and other pollutants is that ozone is emitted; it’s created. It’s a mix of other pollutants coming together. You have nitrous oxide, volatile organic compounds, plus heat. A lot of sunshine, a lot of sunlight.
“It could be created 100 kilometres from here and it will come here. Or the things that are required to create it are created elsewhere.
“It’s important to study where the sources are. That’s what we are doing with the agency.”
During the early days of the pandemic, concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide – all pollutants released by vehicles – plunged, in some cases as much as 70 per cent.
Springer Nature published a paper by the EAD on the topic, based on its findings.
However, a recent study by scientists in the Emirates found that concentrations of tiny particulate matter in the air in eastern Arabia, including the UAE, actually increased during the period.
The increase resulted from an unusually active period of dust storms caused by the region’s shamal winds.
“You could have a sand storm here and the impact on what is carried on the sand or in the sand is completely different,” Ms Mohamed said.
“The sand storm could have the same origin but depending on where it passes by the time it reaches your place or my place it carries all sorts of things along the way.”
That includes things such as pollutants or even viruses, bacteria and fungi, she said.
The study reports that from March to June 2020, the level of particulate matter in eastern Arabia was 30 per cent higher than the average seen from 2016 to 2019.
Particulate matter can cause health effects including everything from sneezing and a runny nose to heart disease and lung cancer.
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
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All matches at the Harare Sports Club
- 1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
- 2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
- 3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
- 4th ODI, Sunday, April 16
Squads:
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- Zimbabwe: Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura
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Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
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Dos
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- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
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- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
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• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
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• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
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Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
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RESULTS
Welterweight
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(Unanimous points decision)
Catchweight 75kg
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) beat Leandro Martins (BRA)
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Flyweight (female)
Manon Fiorot (FRA) beat Corinne Laframboise (CAN)
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Featherweight
Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB) beat Ahmed Al Darmaki
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Lightweight
Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) beat Rey Nacionales (PHI)
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Featherweight
Yousef Al Housani (UAE) beat Mohamed Fargan (IND)
(TKO first round)
Catchweight 69kg
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Catchweight 71kg
Usman Nurmogamedov (RUS) beat Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
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Featherweight title (5 rounds)
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Lightweight title (5 rounds)
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