Measuring Air Quality for Advocacy in Africa (MA3): Feasibility and Practicality of Longitudinal Ambient PM2.5 Measurement Using Low-Cost Sensors
| Autor: | Kevin Mortimer, Annette Erhart, Babatunde Awokola, Chris P. Jewell, Sean Semple, Gabriel Okello |
|---|---|
| Přispěvatelé: | Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository |
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
sub-Saharan Africa
business.product_category Fine particulate Health Toxicology and Mutagenesis Air pollution lcsh:Medicine Pilot Projects wa_750a 010501 environmental sciences medicine.disease_cause 01 natural sciences 0302 clinical medicine Benin Uganda Cameroon 030212 general & internal medicine Hydrogen concentration media_common Air Pollutants Ambient air pollution Gambia Environmental Monitoring wa_754 Pollution media_common.quotation_subject Nigeria wa_395 Article PM2.5 monitor 03 medical and health sciences low-cost Air Pollution Environmental health medicine Internet access Cities Air quality index 0105 earth and related environmental sciences Pollutant lcsh:R Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Kenya atmospheric_science measurement sensor Feasibility Studies Environmental science Particulate Matter ambient air pollution business feasibility |
| Zdroj: | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 17, Iss 7243, p 7243 (2020) International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Volume 17 Issue 19 |
| ISSN: | 1660-4601 |
| Popis: | 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 (PM2.5). 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 PM2.5 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 µ g/m3 with the highest PM2.5 period average concentration of 91 µ g/m3 measured in Kampala, Uganda and lowest concentrations of 15 µ g/m3 measured in Faraja, The Gambia. Kampala in Uganda and Nnewi in Nigeria recorded the longest periods with concentrations > 250µ g/m3. 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 PM2.5 concentrations in SSA countries. Such data are crucially needed to raise public, societal and policymaker awareness about air pollution across SSA. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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