Improving air pollution in Iraq

Air quality monitoring stations installed

With growing concerns in Iraq about the heavy air pollution, the country’s Ministry of Environment took a decisive step in the direction for improved monitoring, control and prevention of air pollution, and announced a tender to procure five fixed and one mobile air quality monitoring stations to monitor SO₂, NOx, NH₃, O₃, SO₂, CO, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, methane, non-methane, BTEX and VOCs.

Ecotech participated through its local Iraqi representative OMA International Trade, Baghdad, and was awarded this project in January 2011.

The analysers are manufactured by Ecotech Australia, including system engineering and shelter design. The project was managed under special attention and supervision of Ecotech’s system Project Manager, Chris Fowler, who has a wealth of experience in managing similar project deliveries within Australia and internationally.

The air quality monitoring stations were rigorously quality-tested as per ISO17025 and NATA standards to ensure that each monitoring station will accurately satisfy the client’s monitoring requirements.

Findings from a recent study funded by the US Army Research Laboratory that began in 2008 discovered that much of the air pollution in Iraq is harmful - the minute dust particles that can make their way deep into the lungs and stay there, causing long-term health risks.

Some air quality readings in Iraq found that the fine particulate matter was nearly 10 times higher than the levels generally considered acceptable in the US.

Some of the particles are generated by large dust storms, which happen about twice a month. Others come from man-made sources like vehicle exhaust (leaded gasoline is still used in Iraq), factories and trash fires, and may contain lead, arsenic, mercury and other heavy metals that could be toxic.