High Levels of Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Concentrations from Burning Solid Fuels in Rural Households of Butajira, Ethiopia

The use of solid fuel, known to emit pollutants which cause damage to human health, is the primary energy option in Ethiopia. Thus, the aim of this study was to measure the level of household air pollution by using the 24-h mean concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in 150 randomly recruited households in rural Butajira, Ethiopia. Data relating to household and cooking practices were obtained by conducting face-to-face interviews with the mothers. The 24-h mean (standard deviation) and median PM2.5 concentrations were 410 (220) and 340 µg/m3, respectively. Households using only traditional stoves and those who did not open the door or a window during cooking had a significantly higher mean concentration compared with their counterparts. There is a statistically significant correlation between the mean concentration of PM2.5 and the self-reported cooking duration. The pollution level was up to 16 times higher than the WHO 24-h guideline limit of 25 μg/m3, thus leaving the mothers and children who spend the most time at the domestic hearth at risk of the adverse health effects from solid fuel use in Ethiopia. Thus, effective short- and long-term interventions are urgently needed.

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Variation Trends of Fine Particulate Matter Concentration in Wuhan City from 2013 to 2017

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15071487 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (7) ◽

pp. 1487 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Daoru Liu ◽

Qinli Deng ◽

Zeng Zhou ◽

Yaolin Lin ◽

Junwei Tao

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Wuhan City ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

Variation Patterns ◽

Average Proportion ◽

June July ◽

Matter Concentration ◽

Mean Concentration ◽

Pm2.5 Concentration

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is directly associated with smog and has become the primary factor that threatens air quality in China. In order to investigate the variation patterns of PM2.5 concentrations in various regions of Wuhan city across different time spans, we analyzed continuous monitoring data from six monitoring sites in Wuhan city from 2013 to 2017. The results showed that the PM2.5 concentration from the various monitoring sites in the five-year period showed a decreasing trend. January, October, and December are the three months with relatively high mean monthly PM2.5 concentrations in the year, while June, July, and August are the three months with relatively low mean monthly PM2.5 concentrations in the year. The number of days with a daily mean concentration of 35–75 μg/m3 was the highest, while the number of days with a daily mean concentration of more than 250 μg/m3 was the lowest. PM2.5 accounted for a large proportion of the major pollutants and is the main source of air pollution in Wuhan city, with an average proportion of over 46%.

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Reactive oxygen species induced by personal exposure to fine particulate matter emitted from solid fuel combustion in rural Guanzhong Basin, northwestern China

Air Quality Atmosphere & Health ◽

10.1007/s11869-019-00747-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 1323-1333 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yaqi Li ◽

Hongmei Xu ◽

Kailai He ◽

Jinhui Wang ◽

Zhi Ning ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reactive Oxygen Species ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Solid Fuel ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Personal Exposure ◽

Northwestern China ◽

Oxygen Species ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

Solid Fuel Combustion ◽

Guanzhong Basin

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Extreme concentrations of fine particulate matter and black carbon during commute

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-21032 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Veronika S. Brand ◽

Thiago Nogueira ◽

Prashant Kumar ◽

Maria de Fatima Andrade

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Black Carbon ◽

Extreme Values ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Extreme Value Distribution ◽

Road Vehicles ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

Commuter Exposure ◽

Evening Peak

Commuters are vulnerable to traffic air pollutants, especially to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) because of their proximity to on-road vehicles. Both pollutants have been extensively associated to adverse health effects (i.e., stroke, diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and cancer). Therefore, this work aims to investigate the extreme concentrations of PM2.5 and BC occurrence in commuters in the megacity of S&#227;o Paulo, Brazil. We carried out a field campaign measuring the commuter exposure to PM2.5 and BC concentrations inside buses, cars and undergrounds in S&#227;o Paulo during morning and evening peak-hours. We fitted an Extreme Value Distribution to the collected data to investigate the behavior of the extreme values in the different transport modes and periods of the day. The results suggest that higher concentrations of PM2.5 and BC occur more frequently inside buses, followed by cars and undergrounds. Extreme concentrations for both pollutants are more likely to happen during morning peak-hours when compared to evening peak-hours. Our findings add further evidence that the transport mode and period of the day a&#64256;ect substantially the PM2.5 and BC exposure in commuters. Furthermore, the results are quite useful for supporting urban policies that consider the improvement of the efficiency of air filtering systems inside public transport and private cars.

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Future climate and adverse health effects caused by fine particulate matter air pollution: case study for Poland

Regional Environmental Change ◽

10.1007/s10113-012-0366-6 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 705-715 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Marko Tainio ◽

Katarzyna Juda-Rezler ◽

Magdalena Reizer ◽

Aleksander Warchałowski ◽

Wojciech Trapp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Health Effects ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Future Climate ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Adverse Health ◽

Fine Particulate

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HEALTH RISK DUE TO HEAVY METAL(LOID)S EXPOSURE THROUGH FINE PARTICULATE MATTER AND SEDIMENTED DUST IN PEOPLE LIVING NEXT TO A BEACH CONTAMINATED BY MINE TAILINGS

10.20937/rica.53830 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dante D. Cáceres ◽

Paulina Flores-Jimenez ◽

Kelly Hernández ◽

Frederico Peres ◽

Ana K. Maldonado ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Mine Tailings ◽

Risk Index ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Hazard Index ◽

Carcinogenic Risk ◽

Dermal Contact ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

Effects On Children

The non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI) and the carcinogenic risk index (CRI) due to exposure to metal(loid)s were assessed in children and adults living adjacent to a beach contaminated with mine tailings. Chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) were determined in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and sedimented dust (SD) in school and residential microenvironments. The HI in children was 13.8, 8.1, 5.4, 2.4, 2.3 and 1.8-times greater than the safety threshold (1.0) for Cr, As, Pb, Mn, Cu, and Cd, respectively; 84.1 % explained by dermal contact and 10.9 % by ingestion of SD. The CRI for Cr and As was 3.7 and 3.2 times above the acceptable risk (> 1 × 10–4), explained by the inhalation of PM2.5 and SD, respectively. In adults, the CRI for As and Cr was 46.0 and 2.8 times greater than 1 × 10–4; As risk is explained by dermal contact and inhalation of SD, and Cr by inhalation of PM2.5. This study reports a high risk of potential adverse health effects on children and adults due to exposure to these elements present in the particles and dust studied.

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