Environment Authority conducts national study to monitor airborne particles at 33 sites in Oman

Muscat: The Environment Authority has conducted a specialized national scientific study to monitor the chemical composition and sources of airborne particles. The study, which covered 33 sites across the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, with the prime objective of assessing their chemical composition of airborne particles, analyzing their anthropogenic sources and tracking their associated seasonal variations.

The study focused on measuring two primary categories of airborne particulate matter: particles with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres (PM10) and fine particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5). These are critical indicators for evaluating air quality and understanding the associated environmental and health impacts.

Air samples were collected during two periods representing the summer and winter seasons, thus enabling the observation of seasonal fluctuations in the concentrations and chemical composition of the particles. The analysis also examined how these outcomes are influenced by meteorological and climatic conditions, as well as the specific environmental characteristics of the study locations.

The study included an analysis of the elemental and ionic components of the particle to determine its chemical profile and the relative contributions of natural and human-made sources—ranging from dust, sand and sea spray to emissions resulting from various human activities.