Measuring Air Quality for Advocacy in Africa (MA3): Feasibility and Practicality of Longitudinal Ambient PM 2.5 Measurement Using Low-Cost Sensors.

Autor: Awokola BI; Centre for Health Informatics, Computing & Statistics (CHICAS), Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK.; Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.; Department of Clinical Services, Medical Research Council Gambia at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, P. O. Box 273 Banjul, ‎Gambia., Okello G; Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge, 2 Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1QA, UK.; African Centre for Clean Air, P.O. Box 4357 Kampala, Uganda., Mortimer KJ; Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.; Respiratory Medicine Department, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L9 7AL, UK., Jewell CP; Centre for Health Informatics, Computing & Statistics (CHICAS), Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK., Erhart A; Disease Control & Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council Gambia at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, P. O. Box 273 Banjul, ‎Gambia., Semple S; Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: International journal of environmental research and public health [Int J Environ Res Public Health] 2020 Oct 03; Vol. 17 (19). Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Oct 03.
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17197243
Abstrakt: Ambient air pollution in urban cities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is an important public health problem with models and limited monitoring data indicating high concentrations of pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ). On most global air quality index maps, however, information about ambient pollution from SSA is scarce. We evaluated the feasibility and practicality of longitudinal measurements of ambient PM 2.5 using low-cost air quality sensors (Purple Air-II-SD) across thirteen locations in seven countries in SSA. Devices were used to gather data over a 30-day period with the aim of assessing the efficiency of its data recovery rate and identifying challenges experienced by users in each location. The median data recovery rate was 94% (range: 72% to 100%). The mean 24 h concentration measured across all sites was 38 µg/m 3 with the highest PM 2.5 period average concentration of 91 µg/m 3 measured in Kampala, Uganda and lowest concentrations of 15 µg/m 3 measured in Faraja, The Gambia. Kampala in Uganda and Nnewi in Nigeria recorded the longest periods with concentrations >250µg/m 3 . Power outages, SD memory card issues, internet connectivity problems and device safety concerns were important challenges experienced when using Purple Air-II-SD sensors. Despite some operational challenges, this study demonstrated that it is reasonably practicable and feasible to establish a network of low-cost devices to provide data on local PM 2.5 concentrations in SSA countries. Such data are crucially needed to raise public, societal and policymaker awareness about air pollution across SSA.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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