Particulate Matter, air pollution quality in Malawiby Clement Kandodo | 21-03-2017 18:49 |
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Atmospheric particulate matter is a central component of the atmospheric chemical and climate system, these condesed (liquid and solid) materials are major air pollutant harmful to human health, and a component of biological systems and global biogeochemical cycles. Air pollution in Malawi is recognized as one of the key environmental issues. Out of nine key issues it is ranked eighth on priority issues. This has led to lagging behind in terms of research and reporting on the issue. However, the Malawi Government has made strides in implementing policies, acts and programs that are directly or indirectly concerned with the improvement and abatement of air quality. The inventories and studies show that future anticipated air quality problems are cause for worry such as impact on human health, global climate change and ozone depletion. Trends in consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODS) show a remarkable drive towards total reduction. Emissions standards are in place in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Recommendations on how to deal with air quality issues have been proposed in the national state of environmental report (NSOER) in that: 1) there is a need for an operational framework for climate change programs in Malawi. 2) there is a need to unify climate change policies dealing with enforcement of ODS phasing out, alternative energy sources, emissions from vehicles and industries, and institutional and human resource capacity. According to studies by Dasgupta et al. [15], in a sample ranking of 31 countries it showed that Malawi?s rank on income and environmental indices in terms of air is 18. In this study, industrialized countries and least developed nations were studied, Malawi?s focus on air quality compared to its neighbors was better. Zambia was ranked 22 while Mozambique and Tanzania were ranked 27th and 29th respectively. Approximately 1.4% of total mortality, 0.5% of all disability-adjusted life (DALYs) and 2% of all pulmonary diseases are attributable to outdoor pollution (MMH 2014). Lack of monitoring equipment and systems hinder studies in air quality in Malawi. Very few places have monitoring systems in Malawi. The Lilongwe International Airport has one monitoring system for air quality. The Polytechnic, University of Malawi has another monitoring system. However it has limited sensors available for SO2, NO2 and Carbon Monoxide (CO) besides wind speed and temperature. As such it is not easy to extrapolate results over the whole country. Indoor studies have been carried out but on a very limited scale and much localized studies in recent years. Air pollution occurs countrywide in Malawi. Composition of air in all areas is a combination of dust, gases and car exhaust fumes that affects the air quality in both urban and rural settings. The use of large diesel vehicles especially in the transport sector which are poorly maintained make a significant contribution to poor air quality in urban areas. The large volumes of vehicles in cities and the increased incidences of traffic congestions in the highways contribute significant amounts of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds and secondary pollutants to the poor quality of air. Poor planning of cities may also be an issue contributing to the severity of air pollution especially in the wake of high numbers of car ownership. Smoke and haze especially in the rural areas are other pollutants experienced in Malawi due to bush fires, burning of tires, biomass burning and dust. Reference:
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