Pages

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Experts to discuss effects of air pollution

BY PMA RASHEED
THE Gulf Today, 5 Nov 2008
THE sources and health effects of air pollution will be discussed at length by global experts at a conference to be organised by the Environmental Centre for Arab Towns (ECAT) during next week.
The conference titled, “EnviroCities 2008 International Conference–Sources and Health Effects of Air Pollution: Knowledge to Practice.” will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Chairman of Dubai Municipality, on Nov.11-13, at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
This was announced by Engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah, acting director general of Dubai Municipality, Dr Radhiya Al Hashimi, director of Environmental Centre for Arab Towns and Yoshinori Yasumoto, director of Sales for Middle East, Sharp.
Lootah said that the impact of human activity on the environment takes numerous forms, many of which are well publicised. In recent years, environmental degradation has become one of the increasing concerns. Two factors account for this evolution: consumption of resources and the production of waste, whether it is solid, liquid or gaseous.
“Dubai Government not only cares about the health effects of the environmental issues we face today, but it has taken a step further to help the people and the policy-makers alike to know more about the causes and effects of air pollution and the possible steps we all can take together as responsible citizens and governments,” he said.
Dr Radhiya Al Hashimi said the Environmental Centre for Arab Towns has joined hands with the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) to bring together a panel of the best environmental and health experts from all over the world to share with us their life-time experience on the health effects of air pollutants.
The panel of international experts will include speakers like Dr Bryan J Hubell, senior advisor for Science and Policy Analysis at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Douglas Dockery, chairman, Department of Environmental Health at HSPH, Michael Walsh, chairman, Board of Directors of the International Council on Clean Transportation, Dr Robert Devlin, senior scientist at the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory at the US EPA and Dr Nino Kunzli, ICREA Research professor Barcelona, Spain.
To add the benefit of regional knowledge to the international experience, Arabian speakers like Dr Walid S. Bouhamra, professor Chemical Engineering Department, Kuwait University, Dr Farid Chaaban, dean College of Engineering, Dhofar University Oman, Dr Najat Saliba, associate professor, Department of Chemistry, The American University of Beirut, Redha Salman, director of Public Health and Safety Department at Dubai Municipality, will also share their studies with the conference delegates.

No comments:

Post a Comment