The Department of Environment and Health Researches at the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, in cooperation with the Developmental Studies Administration at the Grand Mosque, performed a pre-recommended experiment based on one of the Institute’s studies. The experiment, which was performed on Wednesday 18^th Jumada I 1438H, aimed to sterilize the toilets at the Grand Mosque for about five years. In this regard, a research group from the Department was formed; it included the chief researcher, Dr. Omar Basheer Ahmad, along with Dr. Bassam Mashat, Dr. Ibrahim Hussein, Dr. Usama Atallah, Dr. Seifuddin, Ibrahim Flatah and Muhammad Al-Jawi. The group tried a new technology that depended on the nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO
2) to combat pollution and infections resulting from the use of toilets. This aimed to render the path between the toilets and the Grand Mosque (or its area) healthy and contamination-free. This also would render the places near the toilets valid for praying, if necessary, or at times of congestion. 

Dr. Bassam Mashat, the Researcher at the Department of Environment and Health Researches illustrated that some people came out of such toilets with pollutants and remnants of bad odors stuck in their shoes, which rendered the areas of the Grand Mosque contaminated, damp and harmful to worshipers. Therefore, addressing such problem was urgently needed. Moreover, Dr. Omar Basheer Ahmad noted that nanotechnology produced a scientific revolution in the domains of medical sterilization and disinfection of toilets in public places and treatment of pollution problems even for operations rooms. This was because the surfaces which were covered with such substances possess continuous self-cleansing properties. In addition, Eng. Ar-Refaei explained that MVX, a substance which was produced by a well-known Japanese company, had the ability to attack bacteria and viruses; it also strongly affected fungus, dust and odor removal and water centrifuge.

Some toilets at the Small Market were selected. Then, all surfaces there were painted with MVX. Swabs had been taken before and after the paint for microbial analysis to monitor the quality of sterilization, in a regular process that would last for a least a year to ensure the effectiveness of the substance.

The research group completed its work and duties and expressed their gratitude for and happiness with the cooperation of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque represented by the Developmental Studies Administration and the Hygiene Administration at the Grand Mosque.