Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
No surprise that Huawei will look to continue production of semiconductors: White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby
White House warns "time is not our friend" on Ukraine aid
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Hamas leader Abdul Jabbar Jarrar was released from Jenin after two years of administrative detention in the occupation prisons.
The Public Prosecution in the Iranian Kerman Province: Arrest of a terrorist cell affiliated with ISIS that planned to carry out operations and destabilize security in Kerman.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian: We are determined to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia within our vision regarding the interests of the Islamic world and aim to deter our enemies and stop the path of normalization.
Algerian Foreign Ministry: The Algerian President directs Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf to head to Niamey as soon as possible
Algerian Foreign Ministry: Niger’s acceptance of the Algerian initiative strengthens the option of a political solution to end the crisis
Algerian Foreign Ministry: Algeria received official approval from Niger concerning the Algerian mediation initiative to resolve the crisis
Armenia says Azerbaijani forces open fire in border region
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli Supreme Court decides to return the case of prisoner Kayed al-Fafsous to the Military Court of Appeals

WHO research shows 90% of Middle East air pollution from fossil fuels

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Sep 2022 22:56
  • x

Air quality in the Middle Eastern region has "permanently exceeded" WHO guidelines.

  • Air pollution over Beirut, Lebanon.
    Air pollution over Beirut, Lebanon.

According to research published in the scientific journal, Communications Earth & Environment, over 90% of total air pollution in the Middle East comes from fossil fuels. The research, in an alarming sentiment, said that it "permanently exceeded: dangerous air quality levels. 

The MENA region, according to the WHO, has some of the poorest air quality on the planet.

Read more: Air Pollution Kills 7 Million Per Year, Says WHO

There has been, for a long period of time, that the smog that clouds above cities in the region are sand dust from deserts, with the knowledge that there are over 20 major sandstorms every year.

A team of researchers from around the globe toured the Mediterranean Sea in 2017, through the Suez Canal, and around the Gulf to assess the air quality in the region. Specialized equipment was used to analyze air quality and particulate matter on shore. 

The size of the particles - which happen to be very small - can infiltrate into the lungs and put populations at great health risks. The particles, according to the research, were man-made, and are mainly attributed to the burning of fossil fuels. 

Related News

Pakistan eyes jailing parents for failing to vaccinate children

COVID-19 cases around the world up by 63% from July: WHO

The research exhibited how the region was blanketed with toxic material, such as sulfur dioxide, which comes as a result of oil extraction. 

Container vessels in the region also added to the pollution in the atmosphere.

"We have refineries such as those in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that are a big source of air pollution as well as ships on the Red Sea, and in the Suez Canal region," said Jos Lelieveld, who is a lead author in the study. 

"So the combination of all of these means that the air is much more polluted than what most people hope it to be." 

As for the mortality rates, the percentage of fossil-fuel-caused mortality rates are different between nations. According to the study, while 5.9% of deaths in Cyprus are attributed to fossil fuels, in Kuwait, that percentage is 15.9%.

The air quality "permanently exceeded" WHO guidelines, causing 1 in 8 deaths in the region. 

Read next: Beijing meets state air quality standards for first time

"It is very comparable with things that are really of great concern, for example, tobacco smoking and high cholesterol, which are major health risks in the region," Lelieveld told AFP. "And the realization of this in the region is practically zero." 

  • World Health Organization
  • WHO
  • Middle East

Most Read

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

  • Europe
  • 28 Sep 2023
A Ukrainian soldier of the elite drone unit packs up after an attack on the front line in the outskirts of Kremennaya, Ukraine, Sunday, August 20, 2023 (AP)

Ukraine loses around 700 soldiers in one day: Russia MoD

  • Europe
  • 30 Sep 2023
Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

  • Analysis
  • 30 Sep 2023
A child being treated in a makeshift ICU bed in California in 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Children are dying in US hospitals plagued with ill-prepared ERs: WSJ

  • US & Canada
  • 2 Oct 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
Gebran Bassil, President of the Lebanese Free Patriotic Movement Party, Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Oct. 17, 2022 (AP)
MENA

Lebanon besieged, anti-Syria conspiracy defeated militarily: FPM chief

Syrian women and children walk after crossing the border into the northern town of Bukayaa, Lebanon, Friday, April 29, 2011 (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
MENA

Lebanese army stops 1,200 Syrian refugees from crossing into Lebanon

Sayyed Nasrallah
MENA

Resistance shall never abandon Al-Ghajar village: Sayyed Nasrallah

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS