By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE city of San Fernando has received the country’s fourth ambient air quality monitoring station.
In a press release from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) on Monday, on the occasion of World Meteorological Day 2021, the EMA stated that the station will be based at the Southern Academy of the Performing Arts (SAPA).
The EMA stated, “San Fernando was selected as one of the locations in Trinidad based on population density and the number of sensitive receptors such as hospitals and schools. SAPA’s site is neighbouring three secondary schools and is located within two kilometres of the San Fernando General Hospital.”
The station is part of the EMA’s Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network (AAQMN), which was established in 2015 and consists of three ambient air quality monitoring stations (AAQMS) located in Port-of-Spain, Point Lisas and Signal Hill, Tobago.
The suitability of the site was determined using a checklist for siting an AAQMS, developed in country by the EMA’s Air Unit, based on United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidelines and siting criteria.
The fourth station was installed and commissioned in November 2020 and will provide localized real time air quality data for San Fernando and environs.
The EMA stated, “Due to the Covid -19 pandemic and resultant travel restrictions, the service providers were not able to be physically present for the setup of the AAQMS. Notwithstanding, the Air Unit successfully completed its installation and commissioning.”
The EMA stated that south station design is the first of its type in the network . Similar to the other AAQMS, the pollutants being monitored at this location include the criteria pollutants carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and ozone (O3). Criteria Pollutants are monitored because of their known negative effects/impacts on human health and the environment, the EMA stated.
