article · Environmental Quality Management
Rapidly urbanising regions face severe public health challenges from ambient particulate matter, yet fine-scale temporal data often remains scarce. An investigation into the spatiotemporal patterns of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM10) in Douala, Cameroon, gathered hourly measurements across commercial, residential, and suburban environments between April and November 2023. Concentrations regularly surpassed World Health Organisation thresholds, with peaks aligned with morning and evening peak traffic hours. Fine particles dominated overall measurements, pointing towards human sources including traffic emissions, industrial activities, and biomass burning. Health risk assessments revealed elevated relative risks for all-cause mortality tied to fine particle exposure, particularly affecting outdoor workers, children, and older adults. High-risk exposure windows coincided with daily commuting periods, weekends, and rainy conditions.
High levels of airborne particulate pollution present serious health hazards, contributing to elevated mortality risks in developing tropical cities. By tracking fine-scale hourly changes in air quality, this work highlights the specific times and locations where exposure is most dangerous. These insights allow municipal authorities and health planners to target interventions during critical periods such as peak commuting hours to protect urban populations.
This research provides applied observational data that could inform urban air quality management services, environmental consulting, and municipal traffic management programmes. The potential users include local environmental protection agencies, urban transport authorities, and public health bodies. As the research provides baseline monitoring and source identification using commercial sensors rather than a proprietary product, it remains at an early diagnostic stage requiring further development before commercialisation.
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ABSTRACT Ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution remains a critical global environmental and public health challenge, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions of developing countries. Exposure to PM pollution poses significant health risks, yet fine‐scale temporal variations in PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations are often overlooked. This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics and associated health risks of PM pollution in Douala, Cameroon, from April to November 2023. Using a Temtop M2000 monitor at commercial, residential, and suburban sites, hourly concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were measured. The analysis employed spatiotemporal variation assessments, PM 2.5 /PM 10 ratios, and exceedance factor (EF) techniques. Results revealed that PM concentrations consistently exceeded WHO guidelines, with hourly levels ranging from 2.0 to 120 µg/m 3 for PM 2.5 and 3.3 to 190 µg/m 3 for PM 10 . Distinct diurnal, weekly, and monthly patterns were observed, with pronounced peaks during morning (7:00–9:00) and evening (17:00–21:00) rush hours, reflecting the influence of traffic emissions (TE) and human activities. The mean PM 2.5 /PM 10 ratio of 0.62 indicated a dominance of fine particulates linked to anthropogenic sources such as TE, industrial activities, and biomass burning. Relative risk assessments revealed an average risk of 1.006 (95% CI: 0.99804–1.0147) for all‐cause mortality due to PM 2.5 exposure, highlighting significant health risks for vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and outdoor workers. Critical time windows of elevated PM exposure were identified, particularly during rush hours, weekends, and the rainy season, underscoring the need for targeted air quality management strategies. Integrating advanced analytical techniques, including positive matrix factorization (PMF) and meteorological data, this research provides a high‐resolution understanding of PM pollution in a tropical urban environment, offering actionable insights for mitigating air pollution and protecting public health.
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DOI: 10.1002/tqem.70151
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