Ambient and Household Air Pollution in African Cities, in: Elaine O. Nsoesie and Blessing Mberu (Editors) Urban Health in Africa

Abstract

This chapter examines the dual burden of ambient (outdoor) and household (indoor) air pollution across urban centers in Sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights significantly elevated concentrations of pollutants�such as fine particulate matter (PM?. ?/PM??), nitrogen dioxide (NO?), sulfur dioxide (SO?), and carbon monoxide�often exceeding WHO guidelines by 10 to 20 times in many cities. Major outdoor sources include vehicular traffic, industrial emissions, biomass burning, and waste incineration. Household air pollution is driven primarily by indoor cooking and heating with biomass fuels, lacking proper ventilation, disproportionately affecting women and young children. Health outcomes associated with both ambient and household exposures include elevated risks of respiratory illnesses, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular diseases, low birth weight, and increased mortality, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children under five and the elderly. The chapter underscores the limited availability of systematic air quality monitoring across African cities and calls for enhanced surveillance, robust policy enforcement, and targeted interventions to mitigate air pollution and protect public health.