article · Atmosphere
Rapid urban growth and Saharan dust have made West African capitals notable centres of air pollution. An assessment of atmospheric particulate matter in Bamako, Mali, and Dakar, Senegal, examined total suspended particles, PM10, and PM2.5 collected during the 2009 dry season. Chemical testing evaluated elemental carbon, organic carbon, ions, and metals. Daily concentrations exceeded 2005 World Health Organization limits, with PM2.5 levels five to ten times higher and PM10 levels three to eight times higher than the guidelines. Statistical source apportionment revealed five main sources in each urban area. Road traffic was the dominant contributor in both cities, responsible for nearly half of all PM2.5 and PM10. Secondary sources included crustal dust, solid fuel combustion, and secondary aerosols in Bamako, as well as mineral dust, sea salts, and industrial activities in Dakar.
Severe air pollution poses critical risks to public health across rapidly expanding urban centres. By identifying the exact origins of harmful airborne particles, including vehicular emissions, solid fuel use, and dust, environmental planners and public health officials gain the precise evidence needed to target the most damaging local emission sources and design appropriate mitigation policies.
This work represents early-stage baseline research rather than a product development pathway. The findings can be used by environmental consultancies, municipal authorities, and transport planners to design air quality monitoring programmes and emission control strategies. However, the abstract does not indicate any direct technological application or commercialisation pathway.
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Following population growth and rapid urbanization, West African cities have become major sources of anthropogenic pollution. Additionally, Saharan dust has had a significant impact, representing a potentially toxic mix of sources for the population. This study characterizes the atmospheric composition and its sources in two African capitals, Bamako, Mali and Dakar, Senegal. TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 samples were collected during the dry season in 2009 when pollution levels were high: chemical analysis included organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), ions, and metals. PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were 5–10 times and 3–8 times higher, respectively, than the 2005 WHO 24 h standards. Using PCA and PMF methodologies, five sources were identified in each city. In Bamako, traffic (motor vehicles and resuspended road dust) was the prevailing source of PM2.5 and PM10, accounting for 47% and 45%, respectively. Crustal dust was the second most important source (24–30%), followed by solid fuel combustion (16–13%) and secondary aerosols (10–16%). In Dakar, the following sources of PM2.5 and PM10 are identified: traffic (49%), mineral dust (16–25%), sea salts (15–20%) and industries (10–11%). Our study provides crucial information about the historical change in source characteristics in these two African cities, which can help for future mitigation strategies.
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DOI: 10.3390/atmos14040684
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