Tefera Worku, Asfaw Araya, Gilliland Frank, Worku Alemayehu, Wondimagegn Mehari, Kumie Abera, Samet Jonathan, Berhane Kiros
School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Horn of Africa Environment Research Center and Network (HoAREC_N), Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Ethiop J Health Dev. 2016;30(1):5-16.
The health effects of air pollution are generally global problems, but they have, since recently become issues of particular concern for developing countries. This review assessed the situation of air pollution and related health effects in the context of Ethiopia.
The materials reviewed in this publication are published scientific papers from online search engines, unpublished government reports and academic theses/dissertations. In addition, interview data obtained from authorities and experts involved in the management of air quality were analyzed, interpreted and reported in the article.
Review of the few studies conducted in Ethiopia showed that average concentrations of PM reached as high as 280 µg/m for 24-hour measurements (range: 2,417-12,739 µg/m). Indoor carbon monoxide (CO) levels were universally higher than regulatory limits for the United States and were found to be much higher among households using traditional stoves and solid biomass fuels. The use of traditional stoves and solid biomass fuels was reported in >95% of the households considered. High average levels of NO (97 ppb) were reported in a large longitudinal study. The ambient PM level was below the WHO guideline values in the majority of the samples. About 50% of the on-road CO samples taken from traffic roads in Addis Ababa were found to be less than the guideline values while the number of motor vehicles in Ethiopia is reported to be increasing by more than 9% per annum. There is a very limited air quality monitoring capacity in the country. The co-ordination between stakeholders in this regard is also inadequate. The limited evidence available on health effects of air pollution indicates that the prevalence of acute respiratory illness among children living in households using crude biomass fuels is significantly higher than the national average figures.
The limited evidence reviewed and reported in this article indicates high levels of indoor air pollution and trends of worsening outdoor air pollution. This tentative conclusion carries with it the urgent need for more evidence-based research and capacity building in the areas of indoor and outdoor air pollution.
空气污染对健康的影响通常是全球性问题，但近年来已成为发展中国家特别关注的问题。本综述评估了埃塞俄比亚空气污染状况及其对健康的相关影响。
本出版物中所综述的材料包括来自在线搜索引擎的已发表科学论文、未发表的政府报告以及学术论文/学位论文。此外，文章还对从参与空气质量管理的当局和专家处获得的访谈数据进行了分析、解读和报告。
对埃塞俄比亚开展的少数研究的综述表明，24小时测量的PM平均浓度高达280微克/立方米（范围：2417 - 12739微克/立方米）。室内一氧化碳（CO）水平普遍高于美国的监管限值，并且发现在使用传统炉灶和固体生物质燃料的家庭中要高得多。在所考虑的家庭中，超过95%的家庭报告使用传统炉灶和固体生物质燃料。一项大型纵向研究报告了较高的平均NO水平（97 ppb）。大多数样本中的环境PM水平低于世界卫生组织的指导值。从亚的斯亚贝巴交通道路采集的道路CO样本中，约50%被发现低于指导值，而据报道埃塞俄比亚的机动车数量每年增长超过9%。该国的空气质量监测能力非常有限。利益相关者在这方面的协调也不足。关于空气污染对健康影响的现有证据有限，表明使用粗生物质燃料家庭中的儿童急性呼吸道疾病患病率明显高于全国平均水平。
本文综述和报告的有限证据表明室内空气污染程度高，室外空气污染有恶化趋势。这一初步结论迫切需要在室内和室外空气污染领域开展更多基于证据的研究和能力建设。
