The key facts
- The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is checking reports of unusual smells in Dubai and Sharjah and says there is no cause for concern.
- Sharjah Police chief General Abdullah bin Amer confirmed that complaints had been received, but the situation is safe and stable.
- Experts allow that the smell could have been carried by the wind for tens of kilometres; one version links it to oil spills in the Gulf after the conflict with Iran.
UAE authorities investigate reports of unusual smell
The UAE government said on Wednesday that it is investigating reports of 'unusual smells' received from several emirates and assured the public that there is no cause for concern. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said it is working with local authorities to determine the nature and source of the smell. Residents of parts of Sharjah and Dubai wrote on social media about a strong smell resembling fuel or gas. 'Response measures and field monitoring are ongoing to reduce the smells and accelerate their dispersal,' the ministry said in a statement. According to it, assessments conducted 'did not reveal any signs of threat,' and the public will be informed if precautionary measures are needed. The cause of the smell has not yet been established.
Sharjah Police assure there is no threat
Sharjah Police chief Lieutenant General Abdullah bin Amer said on Tuesday on the Direct Line radio programme that complaints had been received about smells spreading across Sharjah and neighbouring emirates, but the situation is safe and stable and nothing poses a threat. According to him, federal authorities are investigating the incident, and updates will be provided as information becomes available. When asked by The National, Sharjah Police did not clarify the cause of the smell; comments were also requested from Dubai Police and the emirate's municipality.
Experts: smells can travel long distances
Professor of air quality and health at the University of Surrey (UK) Prashant Kumar noted that air pollution and accompanying smells can travel tens of kilometres depending on weather conditions and wind speed and direction. He suggested that smells can cross the Persian Gulf and cited the 2013 case when a chemical leak from a factory in Rouen (France) caused an unpleasant smell to spread over southern England. According to him, there are scientific technologies that make it possible to trace the source of air pollution.
Possible link to oil spills in the Gulf
Dr Diana Francis, associate professor and head of the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences (Engeos) laboratory at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, suggested that the smells may be linked to oil spills in the Gulf after the recent conflict. According to her, a spill continues to move with the currents until it is fully contained; several spills can accumulate in areas of circular currents and, over time, evaporate under the action of heat and wind, creating a smell resembling fuel. The National previously reported on the environmental consequences of attacks on tankers in the Arabian Gulf in connection with the war with Iran: experts warned that oil spills and toxic debris could harm the environment and wildlife for years.
