When Air Quality Becomes Deleterious—A Case Study for Kigali, Rwanda

Henninger, Sascha

doi:10.4236/jep.2013.48a1001

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Kalisa et al (2018) show that pollution levels can be significantly higher at the roadside in Kigali than at the urban background locations where our measurements were made. Air pollution in the low-lying valleys of Kigali can also be higher (Henninger, 2013). RAMP measurements at Musanze in late 2017 showed PM 2.5 concentrations at this rural site were moderately correlated (r 2 = 0.54) with Kigali PM 2.5 and about 20% lower (not shown).…”

Section: Conclusion and Recommendations For Future Workmentioning

confidence: 87%

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

et al. 2020

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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.

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Section: Conclusion and Recommendations For Future Workmentioning

confidence: 87%

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

et al. 2020

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“…Rwanda’s urban population is expected to increase substantially from 17 % in 2012 to 30 % in 2032 [ 4 ]. While Rwanda’s government closely monitors air pollution, and prioritizes modern transportation, renewable energy and environmental protection in its development strategies, it is wise for future studies to monitor links between urbanity, air pollution, and ALRI in Rwanda as urban air pollution is a key risk factor for ALRI in other similar settings [ 23 ]. Type of cooking fuel was not associated with ALRI in either the bivariate or multivariate analysis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social, economic and environmental risk factors for acute lower respiratory infections among children under five years of age in Rwanda

et al. 2016

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BackgroundIn low and middle-income countries, acute lower respiratory illness is responsible for roughly 1 in every 5 child deaths. Rwanda has made major health system improvements including its community health worker systems, and it is one of the few countries in Africa to meet the 2015 Millennium Development Goals, although prevalence of acute lower respiratory infections (4 %) is similar to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to assess social, economic, and environmental factors associated with acute lower respiratory infections among children under five to inform potential further improvements in the health system.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study using data collected from women interviewed in the 2010 DHS about 8,484 surviving children under five. Based on a literature review, we defined 19 health, social, economic, and environmental potential risk factors, tested bivariate associations with acute lower respiratory infections, and advanced variables significant at the 0.1 confidence level to logistic regression modelling. We used manual backward stepwise regression to arrive at a final model. All analyses were performed in Stata v13 and adjusted for complex sample design.ResultsThe following factors were independently associated with acute lower respiratory infections: child’s age, anemia level, and receipt of Vitamin A; household toilet type and residence, and season of interview. In multivariate regression, being in the bottom ten percent of households (OR: 1.27, 95 % CI: 0.85-1.87) or being interviewed during the rainy season (OR: 1.61, 95 % CI: 1.24-2.09) was positively associated with acute lower respiratory infections, while urban residence (OR: 0.58, 95 % CI: 0.38-0.88) and being age 24–59 months versus 0–11 months (OR: 0.53, 95 % CI: 0.40-0.69) was negatively associated with acute lower respiratory infections.ConclusionPotential areas for intervention including community campaigns about acute lower respiratory infections symptoms and treatment, and continued poverty reduction through rural electrification and modern stove distribution which may reduce use of dirty cooking fuel, improve living conditions, and reduce barriers to health care.

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“…About 90% of Gasabo district is rural zones and it is divided into 15 sectors, 73 cells and 501 villages. Gasabo district receive annually a range of rains between (900-1500) mm and 20 0 c of temperature (Henninger, 2009;Henninger, 2013;Kumie et al, 2014;Nahayo, 2019).…”

Section: Study Ares Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%