April 2025

Several Arab newspapers and online news platforms have reported on the official launch of the Arab Network for Emerging Environmental Pollutants (EPN), describing it as a pioneering Arab scientific initiative dedicated to addressing emerging environmental pollutants and their impacts on public health and ecosystems across the region.

Media coverage highlighted that the Network was launched under the umbrella of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF), with the aim of unifying Arab scientific efforts and strengthening regional and international cooperation on priority environmental issues. These include microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceutical residues, and personal care product contaminants, within the One Health framework.

Arab media reports emphasized the Network’s role in bridging science, policy, and practice, and in supporting evidence-based environmental decision-making. The launch was widely viewed as a significant step toward enhancing Arab scientific leadership in addressing complex and emerging environmental challenges.

Among the Arab media outlets that covered the launch were Diwan Al Arab and Abu Dhabi ENV, in addition to several specialized environmental and scientific platforms.