The State of Ambient Air Quality in Two Ugandan Cities

A Pilot Cross-Sectional Spatial Assessment

Bibliographic Data

ID15477229
AuthorsBruce Kirenga (0000-0002-2023-2840, Makerere University, corresponding author), Qingyu Meng (0000-0003-4796-6358, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey), Frederik van Gemert (0000-0002-0287-1016, University Medical Center Groningen), Hellen Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa (Makerere University), Niels H Chavannes (0000-0002-8607-9199, Leiden University Medical Center), Niels Chavannes (Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZA, The Netherlands), Achilles Katamba (0000-0002-2347-4183, Makerere University), Gerald Obai (Gulu University), Thys van der Molen (0000-0002-6606-8804, University of Groningen), Stephan Schwander (0000-0001-5836-0699, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey), Vahid Mohsenin (0000-0001-9384-8374, Yale University)
Year2015
Volume12
Issue7
Pages8075-8091
Publication date2015-07-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph120708075
PMID26184273
PMCIDPMC4515709
OpenAlexW1585226779
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited21

Air pollution is one of the leading global public health risks but its magnitude in many developing countries' cities is not known. We aimed to measure the concentration of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3) pollutants in two Ugandan cities (Kampala and Jinja). PM2.5, O3, temperature and humidity were measured with real-time monitors, while NO2 and SO2 were measured with diffusion tubes. We found that the mean concentrations of the air pollutants PM2.5, NO2, SO2 and O3 were 132.1 μg/m3, 24.9 μg/m3, 3.7 μg/m3 and 11.4 μg/m3, respectively. The mean PM2.5 concentration is 5.3 times the World Health Organization (WHO) cut-off limits while the NO2, SO2 and O3 concentrations are below WHO cut-off limits. PM2.5 levels were higher in Kampala than in Jinja (138.6 μg/m3 vs. 99.3 μg/m3) and at industrial than residential sites (152.6 μg/m3 vs. 120.5 μg/m3) but residential sites with unpaved roads also had high PM2.5 concentrations (152.6 μg/m3). In conclusion, air pollutant concentrations in Kampala and Jinja in Uganda are dangerously high. Long-term studies are needed to characterize air pollution levels during all seasons, to assess related public health impacts, and explore mitigation approaches

Aerodynamic diameter · Aerosol · Air pollutants · Air pollution · Air quality index · Atmospheric sciences · Geography · Humidity · Meteorology · Nitrogen dioxide · Ozone · Particulates · Pollutant · Relative humidity · Sulfur dioxide · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Chemistry · COVID-19 impact on air quality · Environmental Science · Noise Effects and Management · Environmental Engineering · Pollution