RIYADH — The National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) has provided direct indicators for monitoring air quality, updated every 5 minutes, through 240 stations spread across all regions and cities of Saudi Arabia. The indicators of air quality obtain data on 22 air components, including suspended particles that are not visible to the naked eye. This feature will help the public take precautions to avoid areas with poor air quality. The project supervisor at NCEC, Eng. Ali Al-Qarni, stated that the distribution of air quality monitoring stations is carried out according to a mechanism that takes into account the population density, and the distribution of industrial cities and facilities with an environmental impact, in order to ensure that the components of the air remain at levels safe for health. The NCEC takes the necessary procedures as soon as possible if the stations monitor high indicators of air pollution, in addition to dealing with the source in accordance with the executive regulations for the Environmental Law that ensure stopping sources of emission of air pollutants. Eng. Al-Qarni confirmed the creation of a website in which the locations of air monitoring stations in all regions of the Kingdom have been placed, so that the public can access around the clock to follow up the air quality index. He said that they will also launch a mobile app to follow the results from monitoring stations directly. It will provide live footage from cameras located in the vicinity of the station, with the possibility of the public receiving the results at the same moment. He said, "Part of the stations are mobile and can be distributed after identifying the areas most in need, with a focus on industrial cities, where we work with our partners to provide them with periodic reports that enable the authorities and the establishments to take the necessary decisions to preserve the air quality by tackling pollution resulting from their development activities." Eng. Al-Qarni said that the results of air quality indicators are frequently requested by government and private agencies and individuals for several reasons. "The air quality index looks for five basic elements, focusing on suspended particles that we inhale but do not feel," Eng. Al-Qarni said, adding that it also measures 22 elements, including ozone, temperature, humidity and wind, making it an integrated process for measuring air quality.
