Makkah, The National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) revealed that the number of air quality monitoring stations during the Hajj season this year increased by 70% in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites, compared to only six stations that were operated for the first time in 2021, the year that marked the first season when the center began its work after its establishment.
Director of the Environment data at the center Dr. Mohammad Al-Daghriri said that the Kingdom places the ‘air quality index’ among its main targeted indicators in Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites to raise air quality for pilgrims, adding that the calculations of the air quality index at the monitoring stations Sites are based on measurements of six major pollutants, namely nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and suspended particles less than 10 and 2.5 micrograms.
He indicated that the center had boosted its capabilities over the past years to monitor and measure air quality by expanding the e
stablishment of 240 high-quality monitoring stations in various cities of the Kingdom, with their specifications consistent with internationally approved stations. He also explained that the center is currently working on more than one stage to develop and analyze quality data and share the data with relevant agencies.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
