This study examined daily outdoor PM2.5 exposure in The Gambia, Kenya and Mozambique using monitoring data collected during 2022–2023. Published in Atmospheric Environment: X, the paper mapped personal exposure data across different land-use and land-cover classes to better understand local air pollution patterns.
The findings showed that PM2.5 levels were highest in The Gambia and that most land cover types exceeded World Health Organization air quality guideline thresholds. Pollutant concentrations varied strongly across land cover classes, with exposure patterns influenced by multiple local sources, including traffic, industry, fire smoke, wetlands and household energy use.
The study also found that road-edge effects on PM2.5 were highly site-specific. In some settings, pollution levels decreased with distance from roads, while in others road proximity alone did not explain exposure patterns. These findings highlight the need for expanded air quality monitoring and targeted mitigation strategies that address multiple pollution sources across sub-Saharan African settings.
Read more:
Mushore, T. D., Nyoni, H. B., Munthali, L., Makhanya, S. A., Chikoko, L., Chapunza, A. M., Luchters, S., Chersich, M., Machingura, F., Makacha, L., Barratt, B., Mistry, H. D., Volvert, M. L., Dumbura, C., D’Alessandro, U., Roca, A., Sevene, E., Cossa, H., Temmerman, M., Koech, A., … Makanga, P. T. (2026). Daily outdoor PM2.5 exposure characterization and road edge effect during a 2022–2023 monitoring campaign in Gambia, Kenya and Mozambique. Atmospheric Environment: X, 30, 100463.