Sunday 05 / May / 2024
Muscat: Efforts taken by the government to limit movement to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Oman caused a significant decrease in air pollutant levels, a new study shows.
Conducted by the country’s Environment Authority, which was represented by the Directorate General of Environmental Affairs, the study aimed at analysing the air quality in three areas of Muscat: Al Khuwair, Mawaleh, and Wattayah.
The study evaluated pollutant data from two periods: the first being before the arrival of the pandemic, in July 2019, and the second after its arrival, in April 2020. Levels were compared for key pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and suspended particulate matter, while the causes of pollution, such as economic activities, overpopulation, and vehicular traffic, were also analysed.
The authority said in its report: "Measurements of the concentrations of gaseous emissions were taken from monitoring stations to study air quality, and the results and figures have shown a significant decrease in pollutant concentrations during the coronavirus pandemic as a result of the costly decisions of the Supreme Committee, the most important of which was the closure of Muscat Governorate and the halting of schools and commercial activities."
"This, in turn, was reflected in a broad decline in traffic and various population activities in the governorate,” added the report. “It must be noted that transportation alone contributes to up to 23 per cent of global carbon emissions, motor vehicle emissions amount to 72 per cent and air transport causes 11 per cent of the total global emissions of greenhouse gases from the transport sector."
