Statement on Impact of Air Pollution on Human Health; Africa Region

The impacts of air pollution on human health are enormous and in African region, morbidity and mortality from air pollution causes rose since 1990. The significant sources of air pollution have been observed from human activities such as Industrialization, agricultural burning, transport and traffic, combustion of wood, coal, paraffin and animal dung for household energy needs, dusty roads and burning of household solid waste in areas without regular residential waste collection services. Africa with a poor health system faces a severe lack of air pollution detection metrics, with only 7 out of 54 countries having air quality detection monitors. Long- and short-term exposure to air pollution is associated with increasing rate of morbidity and mortality from acute and chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancers. The progression of asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases is linked to air pollution exposure. Measures to reduce and control air pollution in Africa Region have been suggested in this paper.

Human activities have adverse effects on the environment by polluting the water we drink, the air we breathe and the soil in which plants grow. Pollution is defined as the introduction into the environment of substances harmful to humans and other living organisms. Pollutants are harmful solids, liquids, or gases produced in higher than usual concentrations that reduce the quality of our environment. Air pollution is defined as the existence of lethal chemicals or compounds (as well as those of biological origin) in air at levels that bring a health risk [1]. and usually air pollution is the presence of chemicals or compounds in the air which are generally not present and lower the quality of the air otherwise cause detrimental changes to the quality of life [2].

Air pollution is distinguished into two main types; outdoor and indoor pollution. Outdoor pollution is the ambient air pollution while indoor pollution is the pollution generated by household combustion of fuels. People exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants experience disease symptoms and states of greater and lesser seriousness, effects are short- and long-term effects affecting health. Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risk to human health. While all age groups are affected by air pollution, susceptible populations that need to be extra aware of health protection measures include old people, children, and people with diabetes and predisposing heart or lung disease, especially asthma. In 2019, 99% of the world’s population was living in places where the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines levels were not met. The combined effects of ambient air pollution and household air pollution are associated with 6.7 million premature deaths annually. Ambient (outdoor) air pollution is estimated to have caused 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2019 and some 89% of those premature deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

Over 600,000 lives were lost from Africa and 287,000 from Europe were as an effect of air pollution linked burden in the year 2012 [3,4]. Policies and investments supporting cleaner transport, energy efficient homes, power generation, industry and better municipal waste management would reduce key sources of outdoor air pollution. Through reducing air pollution levels, nations can reduce the burden of morbidities and mortalities from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases such asthma.

Impact of air pollution on human health

Air pollution has various health effects and the health of susceptible and sensitive individuals can be impacted even on low air pollution days. In recent years, the effects of air pollution on health have been a focus to intense study and exposure to pollutants such as airborne particulate matter and ozone has been associated with increases in mortality and hospital admissions due to respiratory and cardiovascular disease [5].

In a new civilized world, air pollution is a major concern since it has a serious toxicological impact on human health. Air pollution has a number of different emission sources such as automobiles and industrial processes contributing majorly to air pollution and data from W.H.O shows that six main air pollutants are particle pollution, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and lead [6].

Each year, millions of deaths are reported from on the onset of diseases such as respiratory infections and inflammations, cardiovascular dysfunctions as well as cancer which are long-term effects of air pollution [7-13]. In a recent study, Zhou N, et al. [14] revealed a link between male infertility and air pollution.

Globally, an estimated 8.8 million mortality per year is suggested as a result of all ambient air pollution. Across Africa, air pollution was responsible for 1.1 million deaths in 2019, with household air pollution accounting for 697 000 and ambient air pollution for 394 000 of all air pollution deaths’ causes [15].

Air pollution in African region

In African region, human health and economic costs of air pollution are high and rising. From the years 1990 to 2013, deaths from ambient particulate matter in African rose by more than one third, and was costing the African economy nearly USD 215 billion annually by 2013 [16]. Africa experienced a rise by 18% between 1990 and 2013 in premature deaths associated with domestic fuel combustion by 18% between 1990 and 2013 which subsequently costed the African economy approximately USD 232 billion then [17].

More than 6 million lives are lost prematurely each year from exposure to air pollution. Population density paired to ground-level pollutant concentrations derive population-weighted exposure metrics; most residents in 171 countries experience pollutant levels exceeding international health guidelines [18]. Air pollution as the fifth leading risk factor for mortality worldwide [19]. Is responsible for over 700,000 deaths annually in Africa [20]. African region faces a challenge of lack of substantive capacity for air quality measurement, only 7 of 54 African countries have reliable, real-time air pollution monitors, says a 2019 UNICEF report.

The sources of air pollution exposure to human life in Africa includes anthropogenic and natural sources and occur in urban, rural, industrial and residential settings. Industries, agricultural burning, transport and traffic, the combustion of wood, coal, paraffin and animal dung for household energy needs, dusty roads and burning of household solid waste in areas with regular residential waste collection services [21].

Air pollution control in Africa region

Like other challenges requiring policies, personnels equipments and materials, Africa region may be far from reducing and controlling air pollution. Nevertheless, policy decisions towards changes in emissions will impact on air quality and population exposure, this would have an impact on over 700,000 deaths annually as a result of exposure to air pollution.

Efforts to address worsening air pollution issue in Africa region is appearing even more difficult due to, on one hand the lack of data on air pollution concentrations in countries and the scale of the related health impacts [22].

Globally, substantial exposure reductions appear from a range of policies and measures convened into four policy packages which are; environmental pollution control policies, agricultural policies, energy and climate policies, and food policies [23]. In Africa region, the suggested and main strategies to control air pollution are categorized are as; use of technology with 75%, policy at 20% and education/behavioral change standing at 5%.

Every country in Africa region is indebted to its citizens on limited data about air pollution, lack of policies, poor environmental protection, poorly controlled urbanization, lack of information about air pollution of which must be addressed urgently.

The access to clean household energy would significantly reduce ambient air pollution. It is acknowledged that the majority of environmental pollutants are emitted by large-scale human activities resulting from industrial machinery, power-producing stations, combustion engines and automobiles. Countries particularly those in Africa should develop, review, re-enforce and invest in regulations/policies on quality air, monitor air quality and urgently ensure (and enforce) fossil fuels use is substituted with electric energy use during energy production. Research and exploration on air pollution in Africa region needs to be urgently considered by scientists in health, industrialization and environmental protection sectors.

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