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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
environmental science
Traffic impacts on PM
2.5
air quality in Nairobi, Kenya
Environmental Science and Policy, Volume 14, No. 4, Year 2011
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Description
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. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Kinney, Patrick L.
United States, New York
Mailman School of Public Health
Gichuru, Michael Gatari
Kenya, Nairobi
University of Nairobi
Volavka-Close, Nicole
United States, New York
Columbia University
Ngo, Nicole S.
United States, New York
Columbia University
Ndiba, Peter
Kenya, Nairobi
University of Nairobi
Law, Anna
United States, New York
Mailman School of Public Health
Gachanja, Anthony Ngure
Kenya, Nairobi
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Gaita, Samuel Mwaniki
Kenya, Nairobi
University of Nairobi
Chillrud, Steven N.
United States, Palisades
Lamont-doherty Earth Observatory
Sclar, Elliott
United States, New York
Columbia University
Statistics
Citations: 143
Authors: 10
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.envsci.2011.02.005
ISSN:
14629011
Research Areas
Environmental
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Kenya