GEO-6 Regional Asssement for West Asia


2.5 Air Case study Key messages: Air


• West Asia has been recognised as one of the major regions where sand and dust storms originate causing environmental, social and economic impacts.


• The level of air pollutants in West Asia has increased progressively over the past two decades. •


Efforts have been made by West Asian countries to reduce the level of air pollutants but further controls are required. Long-term monitoring of major and minor pollutants should be set up in all West Asian countries. Concurrently, cleaner fuels and the installation of pollution-reducing technologies should be introduced.


is considered very high (Figure 2.5.1) and this is a concern for public health. Particulate matter can penetrate the lungs and cause several cardio-respiratory diseases leading to increases in mortality or morbidity. Exposure to other criteria air pollutants like ground-level ozone, nitrogen, and sulphur dioxides also has detrimental impacts on public health (WHO 2016).


2.5.1 Air quality in West Asia region The level of particulate matter (PM10


In both 2004 and 2008, the highest mortality rates among children under five years attributable to ambient air pollution were in Iraq and Yemen (Table 2.5.1). Such findings indicate that appropriate measures are required to alleviate deaths attributable to ambient air pollution.


2.5.2 Pressures on air quality


The West Asia region has natural sources of air pollution, such as dust storms, and man-made sources, such as power and water production, industry, transportation and construction.


Frequent dust storms


West Asia has been recognised as one of the major regions where dust originates (Prospero et al. 2002; Boloorani et


78


al. 2013; WMO and UNEP 2013). Generally, dust is present throughout the year, increasing in March and April, reaching a maximum in June and July and decreasing in the winter


Source: WHO 2016


) in West Asian countries


Figure 2.5.1: Global population density and concentrations of particulate matter


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