PhD Research Project: Visibility, air pollution and public health in an African urban context

Particulate matter (PM) pollution consists of airborne particles, which are smaller than the width of human hair; it is produced by both natural and anthropogenic sources and activities. PM damages human health by harming the lungs, heart and blood vessels causing serious diseases that may be fatal. In 2013, air pollution was linked to an estimated 710k premature deaths in Africa with an associated economic cost of USD 215 billion (OECD).

As urbanization increases, the burden of air pollution also increases unless steps are taken to reduce per capita production of pollution. The dominant urban air pollution sources in Africa include inefficient vehicles, cooking fuel, diesel backup generators, and open burning of waste. According to the WHO, air quality data from sub-Saharan Africa are scarce, even though the air pollutant concentrations rank third highest amongst regions of the world.

Few studies have investigated air pollution in Africa and where measurements do exist their duration is typically short due to the high cost of standard instrumentation. A lack of data impedes health assessments, thereby hindering the development of policies which benefit health whilst encouraging economic growth.

PM pollution causes degradations in visibility by scattering and absorbing light. Hence visibility can be used as a proxy for PM. Many developing countries do not have air monitoring networks whereas they do have visibility monitoring; global aviation demands it for the safe landing and take-off of aeroplanes. Therefore, wherever there is an airport there is potentially a ready-made PM monitoring station.

 

Project Aims

• Derive accurate PM information from visibility measurements
• Link public health to PM loading in Africa via visibility measurements
• Link PM concentrations to measured visibility. The ability of individual particles to scatter and absorb radiation, and hence reduce visibility, is dependent on their size, shape, morphology and refractive index. Hence, robust physico-chemical relationships between PM characteristics and visibility are required. For initial calibration studies, we will focus on PM in Nairobi, Kampala and Addis Ababa.
• Estimate current and historic PM pollution in Africa. The calibration data collected and generated from the Nairobi, Kampala and Addis Ababa part of the project will be used to generate data for the rest of Africa. This data will allow for changes in visibility/PM pollution to be linked to changes in population, economy (both of which are rapidly rising) and other socio-economic factors.
• Evaluation of PM health effects. Standard dose activity relationships will be used as recommended by the WHO to understand the effects of PM upon African urban health.

Funding Notes

In addition to completing an online application form, you will also need to complete and submit the CENTA studentship application form available from www.centa.org.uk.

CENTA studentships are for 3.5 years and are funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). In addition to the full payment of their tuition fees, successful candidates will received the following financial support.

Annual stipend, set as £14,553 for 2017/18

Research training support grant (RTSG) of £8,000

CENTA students are required to undertake 45 days training throughout their PhD including a 10 day placement.
 

References

http://www.earesearchfund.org/systems-approach-air-pollution-east-africa