Chemical and Biological Components of Urban Aerosols in Africa: Current Status and Knowledge Gaps

Kalisa, Egide; Archer, Stephen; Nagato, Edward G.; Bizuru, Elias; Lee, Kevin; Tang, Ning; Pointing, Stephen B.; Hayakawa, Kazuichi; Lacap-Bugler, Donnabella C.

doi:10.3390/ijerph16060941

Cited by 50 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 130 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In 2012, the yearly average PM 2.5 levels in South Africa ranged between 4.9 and 43.3 μg m −3 , and for all 21 AAQM stations the annual average was 24.1 μg m −3 (Altieri and Keen 2019). The maximum PM 2.5 level was 39.1 μg m −3 , which is generally lower than those reported in cities from other African countries (deSouza 2020; Kalisa et al 2019;Fayiga et al 2018;Gaita et al 2014;Petkova et al 2013). The mean and maximum PM 2.5 levels were higher than those reported in rural areas of South Africa (Tshehla and Djolov 2018; Novela 2019; Novela et al 2019), but lower than those reported in Pretoria, located about 1600 km north of Cape Town (Morakinyo et al 2019;Adeyemi 2020;Mwase 2020) or the South African towns located in the Vaal Triangle and Highveld air pollution priority areas (Olutola et al 2019).…”

Section: -H Pm 25 Soot and Meteorological Conditionscontrasting

confidence: 57%

“…Very few studies in Africa reported on PM 2.5 levels (Maenhaut et al 1996 ; Petkova et al 2013 ; Gaita et al 2014 ; Snider et al 2016 ; Fayiga et al 2018 ; Tshehla and Djolov 2018 ; Kalisa et al 2019 ; deSouza 2020 ). No study ever reported on PM 2.5 levels in Cape Town nor investigated its seasonal and weekly variation, chemical composition and possible source region contributions by using backward trajectory cluster analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

PM2.5 chemical composition and geographical origin of air masses in Cape Town, South Africa

Williams

Petrik

Wichmann

2020

Air Qual Atmos Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PM 2.5 in the indoor and outdoor environment has been linked in epidemiology studies to the symptoms, hospital admissions and development of numerous health outcomes including death. The study was conducted during April 2017 and April 2018. PM 2.5 samples were collected over 24 h and every third day. The mean PM 2.5 level was 13.4 μg m −3 (range: 1.17-39.1 μg m −3). PM 2.5 levels exceeded the daily World Health Organization air quality guideline (25 μg m −3) on 14 occasions. The mean soot level was 1.38 m −1 × 10 −5 (range: 0 to 5.38 m −1 × 10 −5). Cl − , NO 3 − , SO 4 2− , Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Na and Zn were detected in the PM 2.5 samples. The geographical origin of air masses that passed Cape Town was estimated using the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory software. Four air masses were identified in the cluster analysis: Atlantic-Ocean-WSW, Atlantic-Ocean-SW, Atlantic-Ocean-SSW and Indian-Ocean. The population of Cape Town may experience various health outcomes from the outdoor exposure to PM 2.5 and the chemical composition of PM 2.5 .

show abstract

Section: -H Pm 25 Soot and Meteorological Conditionscontrasting

confidence: 57%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PM2.5 chemical composition and geographical origin of air masses in Cape Town, South Africa

Williams

Petrik

Wichmann

2020

Air Qual Atmos Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Viruses may mix with other suspended ultrafine particles, and thus may agglomerate to form particles of various sizes through aggregation condensation of ultrafine particles and nucleation of gaseous precursors [92,93]. It is also well known that particles may serve as vectors for various substances such as pollen and microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses [94,95]. It has previously been demonstrated that viruses are carried by fine particles.…”

Section: Droplets and Aerosolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of outdoor air pollution on COVID-19: a review of evidence fromin vitro, animal, and human studies

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Studies have pointed out that air pollution may be a contributing factor to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the specific links between air pollution and severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection remain unclear. Here we provide evidence from in vitro, animal and human studies from the existing literature. Epidemiological investigations have related various air pollutants to COVID-19 morbidity and mortality at the population level, however, those studies suffer from several limitations. Air pollution may be linked to an increase in COVID-19 severity and lethality through its impact on chronic diseases, such as cardiopulmonary diseases and diabetes. Experimental studies have shown that exposure to air pollution leads to a decreased immune response, thus facilitating viral penetration and replication. Viruses may persist in air through complex interactions with particles and gases depending on: 1) chemical composition; 2) electric charges of particles; and 3) meteorological conditions such as relative humidity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and temperature. In addition, by reducing UV radiation, air pollutants may promote viral persistence in air and reduce vitamin D synthesis. Further epidemiological studies are needed to better estimate the impact of air pollution on COVID-19. In vitro and in vivo studies are also strongly needed, in particular to more precisely explore the particle–virus interaction in air.

show abstract

“…exposures. The situation is similar in many other sub-Saharan African countries (Kalisa et al, 2019;Petkova et al, 2013). This lack of monitoring due to resource limitations also hampers scientific understanding of the sources contributing to air pollution in these countries, which is essential to formulating effective environmental management policies.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Air pollution in Kigali, Rwanda: spatial and temporal variability, source contributions, and the impact of car-free Sundays

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ambient air pollution, particularly fine particulate mass (PM2.5) and ozone (O3), is associated with premature human mortality and other health effects, but monitoring is scarce to non-existent in large parts of Africa. Lower-cost real-time affordable multi-pollutant (RAMP) monitors and a black carbon monitor were deployed in Kigali, Rwanda to fill the air quality data gap here. PM2.5 data were corrected using data from a coincident, short-term campaign that used standard filter-based gravimetry, while gas data were verified by collocation with reference carbon monoxide (CO) and O3 monitors at the Rwanda Climate Observatory at Mt Mugogo, Rwanda. Over March 2017-July 2018, the ambient average PM2.5 in Kigali was 52 µg/m3, significantly higher than World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Target 1. Study average BC was 4 µg/m3, comparable to mid-sized urban areas in India and China and significantly higher than BC in cities in developed countries. Spatial variability across Kigali is limited, while PM2.5 at Mt Mugogo is moderately correlated with PM2.5 in Kigali. A sharp diurnal profile is observed in both PM2.5 and BC, with the Absorption Angstrom Exponent (AAE) indicating that the morning peak is associated with rush-hour traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) while the late evening peak can be attributed to both traffic and domestic biofuel use. PM2.5 in the dry seasons is almost two times that during the following wet seasons while BC is 40-60% higher. Local sources contribute at least half the ambient PM2.5 during wet seasons and one-fourth during dry seasons. Vehicular restrictions on some Sundays appear to reduce PM2.5 and BC by 10-12 µg/m3 and 1 µg/m3 respectively, but this needs further investigation. Dry season ozone in Kigali can exceed WHO guidelines. These lower-cost monitors can play an important role in the continued monitoring essential to track the effectiveness of pollution-control policies recently implemented in Rwanda.

show abstract

Chemical and Biological Components of Urban Aerosols in Africa: Current Status and Knowledge Gaps

Cited by 50 publications

References 130 publications

PM2.5 chemical composition and geographical origin of air masses in Cape Town, South Africa

PM2.5 chemical composition and geographical origin of air masses in Cape Town, South Africa

The impact of outdoor air pollution on COVID-19: a review of evidence fromin vitro, animal, and human studies

Air pollution in Kigali, Rwanda: spatial and temporal variability, source contributions, and the impact of car-free Sundays

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About