More than 500 experts from the Kingdom and abroad are expected to attend the event, to be held under the aegis of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, said general supervisor of the forum, Ahmad Al-Balwi.

Major topics to be discussed at the forum include purity of atmosphere, quality of water, management of hazardous substances and wastes, preservation of land and undersea plants and animals, environment preservation and investment in the environment in industrial zones and nearby locations, Al-Balwi said.

The participants will discuss papers on the quality of air, technology to monitor and  rein in air pollution in Jubail and other industrial cities, Al-Balwi said.

They will also discuss latest achievements in handling effluents, including treatment, the level of contamination in underground water in industrial cities and ways to maintain international standards of quality of drinking water, Al-Balwi added.

The discussions will also cover new trends in controlling foul odors from sewage water and effluents. They will also shed light on how profitable investments could be made in waste recycling and the use of treated water for industrial purposes.

The forum will also stress the need for the inclusion of environment studies in school syllabuses and awareness programs for the general public about environment protection, he said.