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The State of Ambient Air Quality in Two Ugandan Cities: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Spatial Assessment

Author

Listed:
  • Bruce J. Kirenga

    (Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Qingyu Meng

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Center for Global Public Health, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, NJ 07107, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Frederik Van Gemert

    (Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen 9700 RB, The Netherlands)

  • Hellen Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa

    (Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda)

  • Niels Chavannes

    (Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZA, The Netherlands)

  • Achilles Katamba

    (Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatics Unit, Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda)

  • Gerald Obai

    (Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda)

  • Thys Van der Molen

    (Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen 9700 RB, The Netherlands)

  • Stephan Schwander

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Center for Global Public Health, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, NJ 07107, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Vahid Mohsenin

    (Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

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 (PM 2.5 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), and ozone (O 3 ) pollutants in two Ugandan cities (Kampala and Jinja). PM 2.5, O 3 , temperature and humidity were measured with real-time monitors, while NO 2 and SO 2 were measured with diffusion tubes. We found that the mean concentrations of the air pollutants PM 2.5 , NO 2, SO 2 and O 3 were 132.1 μg/m 3 , 24.9 µg/m 3 , 3.7 µg/m 3 and 11.4 μg/m 3 , respectively. The mean PM 2.5 concentration is 5.3 times the World Health Organization (WHO) cut-off limits while the NO 2, SO 2 and O 3 concentrations are below WHO cut-off limits. PM 2.5 levels were higher in Kampala than in Jinja (138.6 μg/m 3 vs. 99.3 μg/m 3 ) and at industrial than residential sites (152.6 μg/m 3 vs. 120.5 μg/m 3 ) but residential sites with unpaved roads also had high PM 2.5 concentrations (152.6 μg/m 3 ). 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruce J. Kirenga & Qingyu Meng & Frederik Van Gemert & Hellen Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa & Niels Chavannes & Achilles Katamba & Gerald Obai & Thys Van der Molen & Stephan Schwander & Vahid Mohsenin, 2015. "The State of Ambient Air Quality in Two Ugandan Cities: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Spatial Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:7:p:8075-8091:d:52605
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James H. Kilabuko & Hidieki Matsuki & Satoshi Nakai, 2007. "Air Quality and Acute Respiratory Illness in Biomass Fuel using homes in Bagamoyo, Tanzania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-6, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Silver Onyango & Beth Parks & Simon Anguma & Qingyu Meng, 2019. "Spatio-Temporal Variation in the Concentration of Inhalable Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) in Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-12, May.
    2. Egide Kalisa & Stephen Archer & Edward Nagato & Elias Bizuru & Kevin Lee & Ning Tang & Stephen Pointing & Kazuichi Hayakawa & Donnabella Lacap-Bugler, 2019. "Chemical and Biological Components of Urban Aerosols in Africa: Current Status and Knowledge Gaps," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Refiloe Masekela & Aneesa Vanker, 2020. "Lung Health in Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: Addressing the Need for Cleaner Air," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-13, August.

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