Within-Neighborhood Patterns and Sources of Particle Pollution: Mobile Monitoring and Geographic Information System Analysis in Four Communities in Accra, Ghana

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0901365
• Publication Date: 2010-01-07T21:12:54Z
• Authors: Kathie L. Dionisio; Michael S. Rooney; Raphael E. Arku; Ari B. Friedman; Allison F. Hughes; Jose Vallarino; Samuel Agyei-Mensah; John D. Spengler; Majid Ezzati
• Keywords: Stove; Aerodynamic diameter

BackgroundSources of air pollution in developing country cities include transportation and industrial pollution, biomass coal fuel use, resuspended dust from unpaved roads.ObjectivesOur goal was to understand within-neighborhood spatial variability particulate matter (PM) communities varying socioeconomic status (SES) Accra, Ghana, quantify the effects nearby sources on local PM concentration.MethodsWe conducted 1 week morning afternoon mobile stationary measurements four study neighborhoods. with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5) 10 (PM10) measured continuously, matched global positioning system coordinates; detailed data were collected at periodic stops. The estimated using linear mixed-effects models.ResultsIn our measurement campaign, geometric means PM2.5 PM10 along monitoring path 21 49 μg/m3, respectively, neighborhood highest SES 39 96 lowest population density. as high 200 400 some segments path. After adjusting for other factors, factors that had largest wood charcoal stoves, congested heavy traffic, loose dirt road surface, trash burning.ConclusionsBiomass fuels, transportation, roads may be important determinants variation Accra If confirmed by additional or supporting data, results demonstrate need effective equitable interventions policies reduce impacts traffic pollution.