EPA monitors air quality every five minutes amid high temperatures, dust storms
. . . says will continue developing air-quality monitoring system and improving the efficiency of its stations and equipment as part of Kuwait’s efforts to protect the environment and support sustainability
The Environment Public Authority is continuously monitoring air quality across the country, with data from monitoring stations collected and analyzed every five minutes to track pollutant levels and assess environmental conditions.
Sharif Al-Khayat, Director of the Authority’s Air Quality Monitoring Department, told KUNA on Monday, marking the International Day of Clean Air, that the authority uses a network of fixed and mobile monitoring stations to provide detailed data on pollutants in the ambient air.
He said the stations measure a range of pollutants and other factors affecting air quality, with readings collected and analyzed continuously. The data helps authorities identify changes in pollutant levels and assess the overall environmental situation.
Al-Khayat stressed that the authority regularly operates, maintains and calibrates monitoring equipment to ensure the accuracy and continuity of the data.
He said Kuwait has expanded its air-quality monitoring capabilities by adding fixed and mobile stations and specialized equipment, allowing authorities to monitor different locations and conditions and gain a broader understanding of pollution sources and their effects.
Kuwait’s climate, including high temperatures and dust storms, can directly affect air quality, Al-Khayat said, making continuous monitoring and analysis important for understanding changes and identifying the factors behind them.
Cooperation on air pollution research
Al-Khayat said the authority is working with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and the Harvard School of Public Health on research into the effects of air pollutants on air quality and human health.
The cooperation covers both local and transboundary pollutants and includes training national personnel to analyze and study monitoring data and link it with prevailing climatic conditions in the region. The project is scheduled to be completed in December 2027.
He said air-quality monitoring data is an important tool for environmental decision-making and can also help raise public awareness about pollution levels and the factors that affect them.
Al-Khayat emphasized that improving air quality requires cooperation among government agencies, the private sector and individuals to reduce emissions and comply with environmental standards.
The Environment Public Authority said it will continue developing its air-quality monitoring system and improving the efficiency of its stations and equipment as part of Kuwait’s efforts to protect the environment and support sustainability.
Al-Khayat urged the public to adopt sound environmental practices and reduce activities that contribute to air pollution, stressing that clean air is essential to protecting public health and improving quality of life.
