Air Pollution In Ethiopia Indoor Air Pollution In A Rural Butajira And Traffic Air Pollution In Addis Ababa

BackgroundrnAbout half of the global population and over 70% of countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa rely onrnbiomass fuel as a source of household energy. Over 95% of households in Ethiopia use biomassrnfuel for cooking. Despite the prevailing major concerns among policy makers and professionalsrnon air pollution, the magnitude of air pollution from domestic and traffic sources in Ethiopia isrnnot well established.rnObjectivesrnThis thesis attempted to examine the magnitude of air pollution by measuring 24-hrrnconcentrations of indoor nitrogen dioxide in rural Butajira and daily measurement of ambientrncarbon monoxide in traffic congested areas of Addis Ababa.rnMaterials and MethodsrnA longitudinal study was conducted to assess the indoor air pollution component between Marchrn2000 and April 2002. Concentrations of NO2 were measured cross-sectionally at about threemonthrninterval using a modified Willems badge air samplers. Mothers of children in householdsrnwere interviewed within 24 hours of air sampling about characteristics of fire use, type of fuelrnand cooking pattern. A Saltzman colorimetric method using a spectrometer calibrated at 540 nmrnwas used to analyze the mass of NO2 in field samples.rnRoadside traffic air pollution was assessed using portable CO USB data loggers. CO monitor isrnsmall electronic equipment installed along 40 roadside sampling points to continuously measurernand record CO concentrations at an average interval of 10 seconds for about 10 hours in therndaytime. Four on-road traffic light posts were also included to explore the association with thernresults of roadside CO concentrations. Data were entered and analyzed using EPI INFO versionrn6.02 statistical software. SPSS version 15.0 was further used to run regression analysis. Datarnfrom CO logger were downloaded in Excel format. Summary statistics, graphs, charts, and tablesrnwere the main tools used to present findings. One-way ANOVA, multiple regression analysisrnand linear mixed model analysis were also used to sort out any non-random differences in NO2rnand factors affecting the levels of NO2.rnviiirnResultsrnWood, crop residues and animal dung were the main fuels in rural households in the study area.rnThe mean 24-hr concentration of NO2 was 97.3 μg/m3 (95% CI: 95.9, 98.6). The median (IQR)rnwas 68.4 (98.7) μg/m3. Ecology and season have shown differences in the mean concentration ofrnNO2. Households in the highland areas and during wet season had higher indoor NO2rnconcentration. Biomass fuel type, ecology, purpose of fire use, cooking of at least one type ofrnfood in a day, and frequency of fire use were important household variables to explain thernvariations in the daily NO2 concentration. While ecology was the major predictor, housingrnphysical structures showed little influence on the variation of indoor NO2.rnIn Addis Ababa, the 15-minute mean (+SD) CO concentrations were 2.03 (1.94) and 2.64 (2.53)rnppm respectively observed during the wet and dry seasons of 2007 and 2008. The two means didrnnot vary significantly. There were variations in average CO by time and location of sampling.rnCO tended to be high in early mornings and in the afternoon rash hours. The CO profilesrnbetween roadside and on-traffic post light were, however, not different from each other.rnConclusions and RecommendationsrnAbout 70% of NO2rnKey words: magnitude, NOrnindoor measurements were more than double the currently proposed annualrnmean of WHO air quality guideline. Ecology and fire-fuel use household characteristics werernimportant determinants of indoor air pollution. Although average CO concentrations were belowrnthe US-EPA and WHO ambient air quality guidelines, there is a strong indication that COrnconcentrations will exceed or approach these guidelines shortly.rnFurther studies in the description of burden of diseases attributed to indoor air pollution arernhighly recommended. Interventions targeting at improving the design and utilization of fuelstovernefficiency and ventilation are essential. The measurement of traffic particulate matter inrnhigh traffic areas is suggested given the high proportion of on-road diesel-engined vehicles inrnAddis Ababa.rn2, indoor air pollution, agro-ecology, sources, biomass fuel,rnvariation, Addis Ababa, CO, traffic air pollution, Ethiopia.

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