title: Ambient particulate matter air pollution in Mpererwe District, Kampala, Uganda: a pilot study.
abstract: Air quality in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, has deteriorated significantly in the past two decades. We made spot measurements in Mpererwe district for airborne particulate matter PM2.5 (fine particles) and coarse particles. PM was collected on Teflon-membrane filters and analyzed for mass, 51 elements, 3 anions, and 5 cations. Both fine and coarse particle concentrations were above 100 µg/m(3) in all the samples collected. Markers for crustal/soil (e.g., Si and Al) were the most abundant in the PM2.5 fraction, followed by primary combustion products from biomass burning and incinerator emissions (e.g., K and Cl). Over 90% of the measured PM2.5 mass can be explained by crustal species (41% and 59%) and carbonaceous aerosol (33%-55%). Crustal elements dominated the coarse particles collected from Kampala. The results of this pilot study are indicative of unhealthy air and suggest that exposure to ambient air in Kampala may increase the burden of environmentally induced cardiovascular, metabolic, and respiratory diseases including infections. Greater awareness and more extensive research are required to confirm our findings, to identify personal exposure and pollution sources, and to develop air quality management plans and policies to protect public health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Center for Global Public Health, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwander
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Makerere University School, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Clement D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Okello
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Makerere University School, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Freers
authors.affiliation: Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA.
authors.forename: Judith C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Affairs, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
authors.forename: Melody
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corry
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Center for Global Public Health, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Qingyu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D002947:Cities; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014454:Uganda
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter