Speaker
Description
Introduction: Fine particulate matter is a toxic air pollutant with an aerodynamic size of less than 2.5 microns that can endanger human health and climate. The WHO have set and recently revised air quality guidelines upon which countries can use as a yardstick to set their own air quality standards. Namibia does not have air quality standards, leading to unregulated levels and unknown sources of ambient fine particulate matters that people in Namibia are exposed to.
Purpose: To determine the sources of ambient fine particulate in Oshakati, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, Namibia.
Methods: This study will (i) collect PM2.5 filter samples every sixth day for 1 year sampling period; (ii) Determine the chemical composition in every filter in PM2.5; and (iii) apply the chemical species of ambient fine particulate matters to identify sources contributions in positive Matrix factorization (PMF) model.
Expected results: Descriptive statistics for PM2.5, and its chemical composition will be presented in tables and graphs. Black carbon, organic carbon and trace elements data will be used as markers to identify the sources influencing PM2.5 concentrations.
Conclusion: The study will reveal the sources of ambient fine particulate matters. Similar studies can be replicated in other cities in Namibia.
References
Alfeus, A., Molnar, P., Boman, J., Hopke, P. K., & Wichmann, J. (2024). PM2. 5 in Cape Town, South Africa: Chemical characterization and source apportionment using dispersion-normalised positive matrix factorization. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 15(3), 102025.
Health Effects Institute. (2024). State of Global Air 2024. Special Report. Boston, MA. https://www.stateofglobalair.org/ resources/report/state-global-air-report-2024
Namibia Nature Foundation. 2022. Namibia State of Pollution Report.
World Health Organization. 2022, ‘Air Quality Guidelines - Update 2021’, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.
WHO.2021 Review of evidence on health aspects of air pollution: REVIHAAP project: technical report.
