Nearly the whole African continent, with numerous nations experiencing some of the highest levels of air pollution in the world, is facing some of the most serious health repercussions in the entire world, according to a new analysis from the US-based research organization Health Effects Institute (HEI).
The State of Air Quality and Health Impacts in Africa, a new publication, offers a thorough examination of the main causes of air pollution and their effects on the continent’s 1.2 billion inhabitants’ health.
The study found that air pollution is the second greatest cause of death on the continent and will be discussed during the COP27 Climate Change Conference in Egypt. In terms of outdoor fine particulate matter, five of the 10 most polluted countries in the world are located in Africa (PM2.5). Outdoor PM2.5 is the most reliable predictor of fatalities from cardiovascular, respiratory, and other disorders in studies of long-term air pollution exposure. An estimated 1.1 million deaths in Africa were attributed to air pollution in 2019, with exposure to household air pollution being to blame for 63% of those deaths (HAP).
In some regions of Africa, where access to clean energy is not equally distributed, the prevalence of disease is higher. According to estimates, 75% of people in East, West, Central, and Southern Africa cook at home using solid fuels like coal, wood, and charcoal, exposing them to daily high levels of harmful pollutants. Newborns and young children in these areas are particularly susceptible to household air pollution brought on by the use of solid fuels for cooking. In 2019, 14% of all deaths among African children under the age of five were attributed to air pollution.
Long-term health effects on newborns and infants include problems with lung development and heightened vulnerability to communicable diseases like lower respiratory infections in young children.
Caradee Wright, the South African Medical Research Council’s Chief Specialist Scientist, said: “This study demonstrates the grave danger that air pollution poses to the health and even life of infants and young children under the age of five. In order to reduce their exposures, this vulnerable group needs special attention. For instance, policies and extensive awareness campaigns with helpful solutions for mothers and caregivers are needed.”
The use of solid fuels for cooking, the use of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) for energy generation, cars, industrial and semi-industrial activities including artisanal mining, agriculture, forest fires, and open waste fire pits are only a few of the sources of PM2.5 that are present throughout Africa. In some regions of Africa, wind-blown dust, a natural source of air pollution, plays a significant role in raising PM2.5 levels.
The causes of air pollution and its effects on human health might vary widely throughout the continent. The average PM2.5 pollution concentration in Western Africa is 64.1 g/m3, while that in Southern Africa is 26.5 g/m3. In Southern Africa, the use of fossil fuels can account for up to 41% of all outdoor PM2.5 levels, but just 11% in Eastern Africa.
Despite the fact that air pollution levels are high, African nations are putting various plans into place to lessen its consequences. Up to this point, 17 African nations have adopted national air quality plans, many of which include efforts to address sources of air pollution, notably household air pollution, as part of their nation’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Less than one in every 20 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Niger, Uganda, and Tanzania had access to clean cooking fuels in 2019, making Africa one of the continents with the lowest rates of energy availability.
Countries are unable to precisely track their progress towards reaching air quality objectives and requirements due to a lack of ground-level monitoring stations.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Catholic University’s Dr. Patrick de Marie Katoto stated: “Air pollution puts additional strain on a health system already overburdened by chronic infectious diseases and, more recently, COVID-19. Chronic noncommunicable diseases are becoming more prevalent in Africa. The African Union and its member states are urged by these findings to support, plan, and finance air quality actions to reduce avoidable illnesses and fatalities across the continent.”
As the world’s nations converge in Egypt for the COP27 climate negotiations next month, Africa will take into account how energy transitions can be planned to be effective, economically viable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. A complicated discussion on energy, climate, air quality, and health is required to address this problem. A continent-wide initiative called “Agenda 2063” has been endorsed by African Union nations as well. It outlines a strategic plan for achieving the organization’s objective of inclusive and sustainable development for all citizens by the year 2063. Africa will gain from better public health and decreased greenhouse gas emissions as a result of these difficulties.
