Study of indoor air pollution from household fuels in Gaborone, Botswana

Verma, T. S.; Chimidza, Samuel; Molefhi, T.

doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2010.07.008

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…However, a previous report indicated an inconclusive relationship between CO exposure and cardiovascular disease during community population studies (Raub, 1999). But a recent study in Botswana, Southern Africa indicated possible health conditions that were reported by household members, and these include; dizziness, shortness of breath and cough, all of which were associated with high levels of CO (Verma et al, 2010). Another study conducted over a decade ago in Kenya Masai homes revealed high concentrations of CO that were linked to the health effects of the people (Bruce et al, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Diurnal Concentrations and Variation of Carbon Monoxide in Indoor and Outdoor Air of Residential Homes in Western Sierra Leone

Taylor

Wirmvem

Sawyerr³

et al. 2015

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It is widely known that more than half of the world's population use biomass fuels (wood, charcoal, dung) as household energy source, and hence, face significant and diverse range of toxic pollutants. In Sierra Leone, more than 90% of the population relies on biomass fuels. We carried out daytime measurements and observe variation of carbon monoxide (CO) in kitchen and outdoor locations in households that burn wood and charcoal fuels in Western Sierra Leone, during a survey that was conducted in September, 2011. Maximum time average 15 mins, 30 mins, 1 hr and 8 hrs concentrations in indoor and outdoor locations were computed. Mean concentrations decreased in the order, 15 mins to 30 mins to 1 hr and 8 hrs, in the two locations for households that burn wood and charcoal. About 87% and 67% of 8 hrs CO concentrations in kitchens with charcoal and wood stoves were in excess of world health organization (WHO) guideline. Approximately 66% and 63% of 1 hr CO concentrations were not different in the same environments. None of the corresponding outdoor locations had values that are said to be critical to human health. Evidence of greater variation in the maximum time average mean CO concentrations in kitchens with charcoal stoves relative to those using wood was observed. Behavioral patterns in homes burning charcoal coupled with the burning conditions were ascribed to the observed variation. The proportion of the short time and acute CO concentrations in kitchens is a cause for concern for humans from the stand point of improved human health.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Diurnal Concentrations and Variation of Carbon Monoxide in Indoor and Outdoor Air of Residential Homes in Western Sierra Leone

Taylor

Wirmvem

Sawyerr³

et al. 2015

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“…In Botswana, some of these criteria pollutants and their environmental and health effects have been reported. These include sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (Jayaratne and Verma, 2001;Ekose et al 2004;Ekosse 2005;Ekosse et al 2006;Shaikh et al, 2006;Eliasson et al, 2009;Verma et al 2010 Verma et al 2010), one potential source of CO pollution in Botswana that might not have attracted attention is emission from cattle and sheep. Methane (CH 4 ) is produced in the stomachs of ruminants and intestine of termites.…”

Section: Criteria Pollutants Of Concern In Botswanamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These challenges include increasing vehicle numbers and road networks (Shaikh et al 2006), biomass burning (Jayaratne and Verma 2001; Verma et al 2010), growing mining and smelting activities (Ekosse et al 2004;Ekosse et al 2006), inadequate data to monitor and appraise pollution levels, lack of cohesive air quality policies, and weak or no legal restrictions (Jayaratne and Verma 2001). The measures put in place to manage air quality; including the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act of 1971, the related but more recent Environmental Impact Assessment Acts of 2005 and 2010, and the Ambient Air Quality -Limits for Common Pollutants of 2012 published by the Botswana Bureau of Standards might not have yielded expected results in view of the prevailing levels of air pollutants like sulphur dioxide and fine particulate matters in the country's atmospheric environment.…”

Section: Challenges Facing Air Pollution Management In Botswanamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The prevalent use of firewood, cow dung, plastic bags, and Chibuku cartons for cooking and heating purposes is fuelled by poverty and inadequate legislation (Jayaratne and Verma 2001;Verma et al 2010). Legislation as a sole measure cannot be effective in tackling this challenge.…”

Section: Biomass Burningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In many homes, logs of wood are used for indoor heating purposes during winter, leading to a pall of smoke hanging over the city in the evenings, with a marked influence on atmospheric visibility. Follow-up studies including those of Verma and Thomas (2007); and Verma et al (2010) have reported increasing atmospheric concentrations of aerosol particles, CO, and particulate matter of size range of 0.3-5.0 µm especially in the low income residential areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Air quality management in Botswana

2017

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This paper examines air pollution situation and the history of air quality management in Botswana. The current air quality management in Botswana is still largely underpinned by the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act of 1971, supplemented by the more recently enacted legislations such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act of 2010 and the Ambient Air Quality - Limits for Common Pollutants of 2012 published by the Botswana Bureau of Standards. Though commendable efforts have been made toward legislating against air and other forms of pollution, these have not yielded expected results in view of the prevailing levels of air pollutants like sulphur dioxide and fine particulate matters in the country’s atmospheric environment. Legislation as a sole measure may not be effective in tackling this challenge. Rather, government should also address some root-causes of the problem by making policies and programmes that will reduce unemployment and increase the earning capacity of citizenry. This will, among other things, effectively check poverty-induced biomass burning in the country. The paper looks at some other challenges of air pollution management and suggestions are made to tackle the identified problems.

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