Chemical and Biological Components of Urban Aerosols in Africa: Current Status and Knowledge Gaps

Egide Kalisa, Stephen Archer, Edward Nagato, Elias Bizuru, Kevin Lee, Ning Tang, Stephen Pointing, Kazuichi Hayakawa and Donnabella Lacap-Bugler
Additional contact information
Egide Kalisa: Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Stephen Archer: Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Edward Nagato: Institute of Natural and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
Elias Bizuru: School of Sciences, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box 4285, Kigali, Rwanda
Kevin Lee: Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Ning Tang: Institute of Natural and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
Stephen Pointing: Yale NUS-College and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 138527, Singapore
Kazuichi Hayakawa: Institute of Natural and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
Donnabella Lacap-Bugler: Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-21

Abstract: Aerosolized particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture that has been recognized as the greatest cause of premature human mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Its toxicity arises largely from its chemical and biological components. These include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitro-derivatives (NPAHs) as well as microorganisms. In Africa, fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning in urban settings are the major sources of human exposure to PM, yet data on the role of aerosols in disease association in Africa remains scarce. This review is the first to examine studies conducted in Africa on both PAHs/NPAHs and airborne microorganisms associated with PM. These studies demonstrate that PM exposure in Africa exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) safety limits and carcinogenic PAHs/NPAHs and pathogenic microorganisms are the major components of PM aerosols. The health impacts of PAHs/NPAHs and airborne microbial loadings in PM are reviewed. This will be important for future epidemiological evaluations and may contribute to the development of effective management strategies to improve ambient air quality in the African continent.

Keywords: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; microorganisms; particulate matter; carcinogenic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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