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Library Traffic impacts on PM₂.₅ air quality in Nairobi, Kenya

Traffic impacts on PM₂.₅ air quality in Nairobi, Kenya

Traffic impacts on PM₂.₅ air quality in Nairobi, Kenya

Resource information

Date of publication
December 2011
Resource Language
ISBN / Resource ID
AGRIS:US201500217640
Pages
369-378

Motor vehicle traffic is an important source of particulate pollution in cities of the developing world, where rapid growth, coupled with a lack of effective transport and land use planning, may result in harmful levels of fine particles (PM₂.₅) in the air. However, a lack of air monitoring data hinders health impact assessments and the development of transportation and land use policies that could reduce health burdens due to outdoor air pollution. To address this important need, a study of traffic-related PM₂.₅ was carried out in the city of Nairobi, Kenya, a model city for sub-Saharan Africa, in July 2009. Sampling was carried out using portable filter-based air samplers carried in backpacks by technicians on weekdays over two weeks at several sites in and around Nairobi ranging from high-traffic roadways to rural background. Mean daytime concentrations of PM₂.₅ ranged from 10.7 at the rural background site to 98.1μg/m³ on a sidewalk in the central business district. Horizontal dispersion measurements demonstrated a decrease in PM₂.₅ concentration from 128.7 to 18.7μg/m³ over 100m downwind of a major intersection in Nairobi. A vertical dispersion experiment revealed a decrease from 119.5μg/m³ at street level to 42.8μg/m³ on a third-floor rooftop in the central business district. Though not directly comparable to air quality guidelines, which are based on 24-h or annual averages, the urban concentrations we observed raise concern with regard to public health and related policy. Taken together with survey data on commuting patterns within Nairobi, these results suggest that many Nairobi residents are exposed on a regular basis to elevated concentrations of fine particle air pollution, with potentially serious long-term implications for health.

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Authors and Publishers

Author(s), editor(s), contributor(s)

Kinney, Patrick L.
Gichuru, Michael Gatari
Volavka-Close, Nicole
Ngo, Nicole
Ndiba, Peter K.
Law, Anna
Gachanja, Anthony
Gaita, Samuel Mwaniki
Chillrud, Steven N.
Sclar, Elliott

Publisher(s)
Data Provider
Geographical focus