Figure - available from: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
This content is subject to copyright. Terms and conditions apply.
Source publication
In order to assess the significance of PM in ambient air, it is necessary to evaluate their physical and chemical characteristics as well as identify their major emission sources. On a global scale, particulate matter in the atmosphere arises mainly from the combustion process of motorized vehicles, but natural sources are still considered as the m...
Citations
... Other leading causes of death linked to air pollution include stroke, lung cancer and lower respiratory infections [49]. Short-term studies showed greater risks for respiratory diseases (mostly in children), whereas long-term studies exhibited higher risks for cardiovascular diseases (mostly in adults) [62]. ...
Introduction: Despite the broad improvement in air quality, air pollution remains a major leading global risk factor for ill health and deaths each year. Air pollution has a significant impact on both health and economic growth in Africa. This paper reviews the health impacts of air pollution and the benefits of air pollution mitigation and prevention on climate change.
Methods: We conducted a narrative review and synthesized current literature on the health impact of air pollution in the context of changing climate in Africa.
Results: Particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in Africa pose significant health risks due to various sources, including household fuels and industrial emissions. Limited air quality monitoring hampers accurate assessment and public health planning. Africa’s rapid urbanization exacerbates air pollution, impacting vulnerable populations disproportionately. Renewable energy adoption and improved monitoring infrastructure are crucial for mitigating air pollution’s economic and health impacts. Recommendations include adopting air quality standards, identifying pollution sources, and prioritizing interventions for vulnerable groups. Integrating renewable energy into development plans is essential for sustainable growth. African leaders must prioritize environmental policies to safeguard public health amid ongoing industrialization.
Conclusions: Air pollution prevention remains a vital concern that requires leaders to engage stakeholders, and other opinion leaders in society. African leaders should proactively explore new avenues to integrate non‑polluting renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind and hydropower into their national development plans.
... The World Health Organization has estimated that ambient air pollution is responsible for seven million premature deaths per year worldwide (World Health Organization, 2021). Some field studies in African cities have reported annual average PM 10 concentrations that exceed permissible levels (Naidja et al., 2018). However, there is still a real need for air quality monitoring facilities to assess the risk to human health to improve air quality and control emissions. ...
... However, there is still a real need for air quality monitoring facilities to assess the risk to human health to improve air quality and control emissions. Most particulate matter in African urban areas comes from road traffic, biomass burning of municipal waste, and heavy industry, such as cement plants (Naidja et al., 2018). Previous studies in Morocco showed a high contribution from local biomass combustion rather than longdistance transport (Benchrif et al., 2018). ...
... The extreme levels and increases in PM 2.5 concentrations have been the highlights of previous studies [37][38][39]. Multiple sources of PM 2.5 can be identified. ...
In the face of increasing global environmental uncertainties, sub-Saharan Africa stands as a highly vulnerable region with a massive population marked with poverty and inequalities. Moreover, different environmental risk factors can coexist simultaneously as multiple environmental burdens (MEB); however, population exposure to MEB remains unexamined. Here, using open-access spatial data and critical thresholds, we quantify population exposure to four key environmental risk factors: hazardous fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels, extreme temperature increase, prolonged severe droughts, and green deficit (scarcity of green trees). Further, we explore the concept of MEB, where these risk factors converge. We derive exposure for 2000 and 2019 at the pixel (1 km grid cell) level. We also check how population change, environmental change, and their interaction contribute to the total change in exposure. We found substantial changes in the population exposed from 2000 to 2019, i.e., an increase of ~460 million people to hazardous PM2.5 levels, ~16 million to extreme temperature increase, ~13 million to prolonged severe droughts, and ~246 million to green deficit. Population exposure to at least three of these four environmental risk factors (3EB) has increased by ~246 million. In this increase in exposure to 3EB, the contribution of environmental change is higher (48%), than that of interaction and population change (36% and 15%, respectively). Notably, there are striking disparities in population exposure, its change, and the contributing effects among countries and regions of sub-Saharan Africa.
... The AWA project (Fig. 1c, d) to be composed of a mixture of Saharan mineral dust and urban pollutants (Petzold et al., 2011). Naidja et al. (2018) have also suggested that soil dust, biomass burning, diesel-powered vehicles and industrial activities can be important sources of atmospheric particles in Africa, and may hence be important sources of TMs in aerosols collected during the AWA project. Similar sampling approaches as described above for GEOVIDE have been used to collect dry deposition samples. ...
... The origin of aerosol particulate emissions in Africa differs from that in developed countries (Naidja et al., 2018). The world's substantial concentrations of dust particulates emanate from North Africa (Huneeus et al., 2011). ...
Particulate matter (PM) air pollution has been identified as the leading cause of disease burden in Africa. A greater understanding of particle air pollution and its negative health effects is critical for developing effective and long-term solutions to air pollution. The current research on outdoor and indoor particle pollution concentrations and their health effects in populated African cities was summarised in this study. In academic research databases, 71 articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2023 were located, with 45 reporting on PM concentrations and 27 examining the health impacts of exposure to airborne particles. A narrative synthesis technique was used in the systematic review to critically analyse and provide descriptive summaries of study findings in tabular form. According to the study, most of the research that assessed particle air pollution burdens focused on either PM2.5 or both PM2.5 and PM10. PM2.5 and PM10 levels in ambient and home air surpassed WHO-recommended threshold values. Sub-Saharan Africa has greater PM concentrations than North Africa. Chronic exposure to outdoor and indoor PM2.5 raised the risk of respiratory infections and pulmonary illnesses, with females, children, and the elderly being more vulnerable. The high levels of PM promote the spread of COVID-19 and cause human capital loss, poverty, low agricultural productivity, a decline in food supply, and a decrease in GDP. Reduced energy consumption, environmentally friendly mobility, increased renewable fuel and clean energy generation, and a shift to sustainable clean cooking are all required to reduce particle air pollution in populated African cities.
... This sector was, however, the main cause of PM 10 levels, contributing around 34% of the total ambient concentration of this pollutant on the continent. Other studies have identified open-field burning activities as a major source of this pollutant in Africa (Naidja et al., 2018). According to the continental DACCIWA inventory (Keita et al., 2018), PM emissions from the residential sector, mostly related to household solid fuel combustion, represent more than 70% of total combustion sources on the continent. ...
... It should be noted that exhaust emissions are not the only source of PM from mobile sources -abrasion (road, brake and tyre wear) and dust resuspension can be even larger contributors to PM emissions. Non-exhaust emissions are particularly relevant in Africa where unpaved roads make up the majority of the road network (Naidja et al., 2018). ...
... Building on these technical capacities and multi-level governance scheme, Ghana's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the Greater Accra Metropolitan Areas Air Quality Management Plan in 2018 (EPA, 2018). The first comprehensive air quality strategy for the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area intends to deal with a number of potential sources of air pollution, especially road traffic, which is becoming the main source of air pollution in Accra (Naidja et al., 2018). The plan establishes links to other relevant environmental strategies that can provide the framework for the promotion of recent successful sectorspecific measures implemented in Accra, such as the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) project (EPA, 2017) or the Greater Accra Scrap Dealers Association (GASDA) in Agbogbloshie (Pure Earth, 2015). ...
Poor air quality is one of the main dysfunctions of the rapid urbanisation process in Africa. Although the information is fragmented, the limited evidence available points out that air quality is a leading health risk in Africa, especially affecting the poorest, most vulnerable communities. In this study, we look into five cities in Africa to understand the nature of urban air quality issues and to delve into the initial responses. We report on the status of the main air quality management dimensions, including air quality standards and monitoring strategy/capabilities, emission inventories and air quality modelling, health impact assessment studies, communication practices, development and implementation of clean air action plans (in connection with other relevant strategies, i.e. climate change policies) and governance issues. We find that all cities have limited monitoring capabilities although communication strategies may differ substantially. While indoor pollution sources are declining in more developed economies, traffic is a growing concern in all five cities. In most cases, air quality issues are mostly related to PM2.5 and natural contributions worsen air pollution from road transport, biomass and open waste burning. While nationally-driven strategies, often based on large-scale engineering projects and financial schemes, may report substantial gains in early stages, multi-level governance and planning is likely to maximize benefits and provide a useful framework for the complex problem of air quality management in the long run. The integration of air quality plans in overarching strategies to tackle persistent poverty and social inequity is urgently needed.
... Electric vehicles have been known to be three times more efficient than internal combustion engine vehicles [7]. They present a significant opportunity to decarbonize transportation to meet the requirement of various sustainable development goals [8]. As a result, sustainable development goals 3.9 and 7.2, which aim to reduce air pollution and improve renewable energy in the energy mix, respectively, promote electric vehicles powered by renewable energy sources. ...
This study evaluates the progress that African countries have made in their transition to e-mobility by ranking their transition readiness. This was accomplished by taking into account access to electricity, the quality of electricity supply, potential emission reductions, infrastructure maturity, EV market maturity (except for category L vehicles), and total cost of ownership. The results show that Morocco and Egypt with a score of 81 and 74 respectively are the leaders in the transition to e-mobility in Africa. Mauritius and Seychelles led by far in sub-Saharan Africa with scores of 72 and 70 respectively. Among the countries studied, only 1.2% of imported vehicles were electric vehicles. Except in four countries, battery electric vehicles are taxed at a higher rate than conventional vehicles. Even under the current scenario, the average emission reduction potential in Africa with the transition to e-mobility is 54% for battery electric vehicles and 50% for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Every country has a potential reduction in emissions of at least 30%. Reaching cost parity for EVs, ensuring spare parts availability, implementing battery recycling policies, acquiring labor skills, installing solar charging stations, and manufacturing components, particularly high-voltage batteries, will herald a significant shift to BEV in Africa.
... Particulate matter can be emitted directly into the atmosphere by natural processes involving soil, biogenic contributions and ocean surfaces (Inza et al. 2005). Long-range transport is one of the main contributors to coarse dust particles, specifically desert dust (Athanasopoulou et al. 2016;Naidja et al. 2018;Kassomenos et al. 2012;Querol et al. 2009). The atmospheric composition of particulate matter can also be altered by anthropogenic activities, with primary particles being mainly emitted from road traffic (García et al. 2019;Millán-Martínez et al. 2021;Querol et al. 2012). ...
This paper presents a long-term analysis of ambient PM10 concentrations measured at a background station in Spain, using backward trajectories generated with the HYSPLIT model, together with the identification of synoptic patterns and a fuzzy clustering analysis, to identify the sources present and evaluate their relationship with meteorological variables such as wind speed and direction, temperature, and atmospheric pressure. Ambient PM10 presented maximum values during the summer with mean concentrations of approximately 14 µg m⁻³ for August, and minimum values during the winter with concentrations of 6 µg m⁻³ for January. The daily cycle presented two peaks—one in the morning and another in the afternoon—with this variability being associated with transport emissions. African air masses reached the study site extending vertically at least up to 2500 m.a.g.l, with a frequency of 43.5%, and are associated to a mean ground PM10 concentration of 41.3 µg m⁻³. During the episodes of Saharan intrusions, high pressures with unclassified synoptic patterns (U) prevailed over the Iberian Peninsula. Local, European, maritime and intermittent contributions were the four main sources of pollutants identified through fuzzy clustering analysis. These intermittent contributions are associated with Saharan dust intrusions, with a long-term average PM10 concentration of 1.7 µg m⁻³, which represents an important contribution of 11.2%. These sources affect seasonal variations of PM10 background concentrations, and reach their maximum when the greatest contributions of desert dust occur—mainly during the spring–summer months. These results provide useful information for future comparisons and environmental monitoring of PM10 levels.
... A vast body of literature within waste management and environmental science has documented open burning as a common method for dealing with waste in locations with limited or inadequate waste collection services (e.g., Ajay et al., 2022;Ayelerua 2020;Chaudhary et al., 2021;Ferronato and Torretta 2019;Kováts et al., 2022;Naidja, Ali-Khodja, and Khardi 2018;Velis and Cook 2021;Wiedinmyer, Yokelson, and Gullett 2014). Many communities, whether urban, periurban, or rural, lack waste collection coverage. ...
Most of the countries
where such burning is widespread have laws and policies in place against it; open burning continues nevertheless.
In this article, using data from ethnographic fieldwork in urban and rural sites in India, Indonesia, the
Philippines, and Zambia, we examine local practices of open burning and investigate why regulations to tackle it
have proven largely ineffective. Adopting a harm reduction approach, we then suggest preliminary measures to
mitigate the health risks of open burning by targeting those plastics and packaging types that are most toxic
when burned.
... Compared to other regions of the world, such as North America and Europe, there are relatively few studies on the sources, composition, and health impacts of PM 2.5 in Africa (Abera et al., 2021;Katoto et al., 2019;Liousse et al., 2014). Important sources of PM 2.5 in Africa include waste burning, residential solidfuel burning for cooking and heating, and open biomass burning (BB) (Amegah & Agyei-Mensah, 2017;Bearak et al., 2021;Mead et al., 2008;Naidja et al., 2018;World Health Organization, 2016). We selected these three combustion sources because they are more diffuse and inefficient than sources that have been studied in North America and Europe (e.g., traffic, industry, power generation). ...
Long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the second leading risk factor of premature death in Sub-Saharan Africa. We use GEOS-Chem to quantify the effects of (a) trash burning, (b) residential solid-fuel burning, and (c) open biomass burning (BB) (i.e., landscape fires) on ambient PM2.5 and PM2.5-attributable mortality in Africa. Using a series of sensitivity simulations, we excluded each of the three combustion sources in each of five African regions. We estimate that in 2017 emissions from these three combustion sources within Africa increased global ambient PM2.5 by 2%, leading to 203,000 (95% confidence interval: 133,000-259,000) premature mortalities yr-1 globally and 167,000 premature mortalities yr-1 in Africa. BB contributes more ambient PM2.5-related premature mortalities per year (63%) than residential solid-fuel burning (29%) and trash burning (8%). Open BB in Central Africa leads to the largest number of PM2.5-attributed mortalities inside the region, while trash burning in North Africa and residential solid-fuel burning in West Africa contribute the most regional mortalities for each source. Overall, Africa has a unique ambient air pollution profile because natural sources, such as windblown dust and BB, contribute strongly to ambient PM2.5 levels and PM2.5-related mortality. Air pollution policies may need to focus on taking preventative measures to avoid exposure to ambient PM2.5 from these less-controllable sources.