AIR QUALITY MONITORING & HEALTH PROGRAMME IN ACCRA, GHANA

EMMANUEL K.E. APPOH EQD/ STANDARDS, COMPLIANCE & ENFORCEMENT

DIVISION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, GHANA

30 August 2016 1

Presentation Outline Accra-Capital & medium sized City of Ghana (area of area:2,592 km2 and is the fastest fastest growing urban area in Ghana etc.

Major sources of Air Pollution in Accra EPA Ghana’s mandate Milestone of Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) in Ghana

Work done on AQM in Accra Outcomes of AQM Implementations Challenges of AQM & Pollution reduction in Accra

Way Forward & Conclusion 30 August 2016 2

air pollution

problems in

Ghana)

Mandate of EPA Ghana

The EPA Act 1994, Act 490 mandates the Agency

- to co-manage, protect and enhance the country’s environment;

- to seek international and multilateral collaboration in managing the country's environment

Based on mandate EPA started AQM programme

started in Accra, Tema, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tarkwa in 1997 (WB Sponsorship).

Built capacity on air quality monitoring

Undertook vehicular emission inventory

Urban Transport Project-AQM programme

Air Pollution & Associated Health studies in Ghana (by GHS)

30 August 2016 4

30 August 2016 5

OUTCOMES OF AQM IMPLEMENTATION

30 August 2016 6

30 August 2016 7

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DATE

FIG1. PM10 CONCENTRATIONS (µg/m3)RECORDED ALONG THE PROPOSED BRT ROUTE:JAN - DEC 2014

MALLAM MARKET GRAPHIC WEIJA KASOA

WHO GuidelineLevel of50µg/m3

EPA Guideline Level of 70µg/m3

30 August 2016 8

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FIG.3 PM10 CONCENTRATIONS (µg/m3) RECORDED AT THE PERMANENT MONITORING LOCATIONS JAN- DEC 2014

DANSOMAN NORTH IND. AREA SOUTH IND. AREA ODORKOR

EPA Guideline Level of70µg/m3 WHO Guideline

Level of50µg/m3

AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI) SYSTEM

AQI is a measure of the quantity of harmful particles and chemicals in the air

The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells us how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for us. The AQI focuses on health effects one may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air.

EPA calculates the AQI on PM, O3, CO, SO2, NO2.

30 August 2016 9

How Does the AQI Work?

It runs from 0 to 500 scale with the higher

AQI value, indicating a greater level of air pollution and a greater health concern to the public.

Understanding the AQI To make it easier to understand, the AQI is

divided into six categories depicted by 6 colour coding system (Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple and Maroon)

Each category corresponds to a different level of health concern; as shown in next slide

30 August 2016 10

AQI GUIDE FOR PM10

Air Quality Index

(AQI) Levels of Health Concern/Protect Your Health

When the AQI is in this

range: ..air quality conditions are:

Good

(0-50)

No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range

Moderate

(51-100 )

Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolong outdoor

exertion

Unhealthy for

Sensitive Groups

(101-150)

The following Groups should limit prolonged outdoor exertions:

People with lung disease, such as asthma

Children and older adults

People are active outdoors

Unhealthy

(151 to 200)

The following groups should avoid prolonged outdoor exertions:

People with lung disease, such as asthma

Children and older adults

People are active outdoors

Everyone else should limit prolongd outdoor exertion

Very Unhealthy

(201 to 300)

The following groups should avoid all outdoor exertions:

People with lung disease, such as asthma

Children and older adults

People are active outdoors

Everyone else should limit prolonged outdoor exertion

Hazardous

(301 to 500) Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion

30 August 2016 11

Status of 2013 AQI

6.65

27.62

34.02

19.69

6.14 5.88

0-50

51-100

101-150

151-200

201-300

301-500

E Q Department April 2016 12

AQM Results: 2015

10.40%

44.40% 21.30%

17.20%

3.20% 3.50%

0-50

51-100

101-150

151-200

201-300

301-500

E Q Department 13

Health Based effects of Air pollution (AQI): 2013-2014

Roadside locations: 1. Green 31(9.17%) 2. Yellow : 116 (34.32%). 3. Orange (UFSG):

100 (29.59%) 4. Red (unhealthy): 55 (16.27%) 5. Purple (very Unhealthy): 23 (6.8%) 6. Maroon (Hazardous): 13 (3.85%)

Residential location: 1. Green 10(47.62%) 2. Yellow : 7 (42.86%). 3. Orange (UFSG): 2 (9.52%) Commercial location: 1. Green 5(18.52%)

2. Yellow : 15 (55.56%). 3. Orange (UFSG): 6 (22.22%)

4. Maroon: 1 (3.70%)

30 August 2016 14

Health Based effects of Air pollution (AQI) Cont’n

Industrial Locations:

1. Green 11(23.40%)

2. Yellow : 26 (55.32%).

3. Orange (UFSG): 6 (12.76%)

4. Red (unhealthy): 0 (0%)

5. Purple (very Unhealthy): 2 (4.36%)

6. Maroon (Hazardous): 2 (4.26%)

30 August 2016 15

Findings of Air Pollution & Health studies in Ghana

Lower respiratory infection is second to malaria among top 10 causes of death in Ghana (GHS, 2010)

Household air pollution (HAP) tops the Burden of diseases in Ghana.HAP causes 3,000 deaths of children under 5yrs.

Association between incidence of ARIs and pollutants most marked for PM10 levels.

Trends in incidence of ARIs follows PM10 level –Changes in ARI incidence occurring soon after changes in PM10s.

Peaks: June-July; November – January Highest PM10 levels occur in roadside locations. Children aged 5yrs and below/asthmatics are most

at risk of ARI

30 August 2016 16

Challenges of AQM & Pollution Reduction in Accra

Lack of policy direction on continuous importation and use of old vehicles.

Poor maintenance of vehicles. Citing of commercial and some residential facilities

along major roads. Gaps in data gathering due to frequent shortage of

consumables and lack of availability of monitoring vehicles/drivers. Limited Manpower

Theft of air quality monitoring equipment Frequent vehicular knockdown of air quality

monitoring posts. Lack of funds and logistics for AQM, public

education and pollution related health studies. In ability to report AQM outcomes promptly to

public

30 August 2016 17

The Way Forward Establish Continuous air quality monitoring stations

in Accra & relating monitoring results with respiratory to aid in prompt reporting of air quality/health situations to public.

Speeding up the development of air quality/emission standards/Regulations.

Reduction of Sulphur levels in fuel to 50ppm before 2020.

Implement fuel economy initiative Promoting use of Non-burn techniques in

management of health care waste/e-waste Institution of Mass transport system in Ghana Government taking a look again on the policy of

importation of over-aged vehicles/scrap vehicle parts & engines.

Further research: areas of AQM, exposure and epidemiology studies 27 May 2016 18

Conclusions

Roadside and commercial sites mostly have high levels of particulate matter. This can be attributed to road dust, commercial activities, wind blown dust and vehicular exhaust emissions.

Correlate the health impacts associated with outdoor and indoor air pollution as well as the vehicular emissions data in Accra on citizens especially the vulnerable group (children, women and the elderly).

Create awareness on the health effects of air pollution. Research – For better understanding of magnitude of

the problem of pollution related ill-health thru: - Exposure Assessments: for air pollutants - Epidemiological studies: Relating exposures to disease

entities. - Respiratory, cardiovascular & other diseases attributable to different sources of air pollution

30 August 2016 19

Let’s clean the air !

Let’s repair the environment! Let’s enjoy health & wealth!

Thank you

Contact:

Emmanuel K-E Appoh Environmental Quality Specialist

EPA Ghana Email: eeappoh@yahoo.com

Tel: (+233) 244 206475/50 1301466

30 August 2016 20

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24 -Hour PM10 Concentration Measured at five location along

the BRT route: 2013

Kaneshie First Light Mallam Junction Graphic Comm.Group

EPA Guideline Level of WHO Guideline

Level of 50µg/m3

30 August 2016 23

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FIG. PM10 CONCENTRATIONS (µg/m3) RECORDED AT OTHER ROADSIDE MONITORING LOCATIONS JANUARY - DEC EMBER 2014.

SHANGRI LA ACHIMOTA La T Junction

EPA Guideline Level of 70µg/m3

WHO GuidelineLevel of 50µg/m3

Findings: PM10, Pb, Mn,SO2, NO2,O3 Concentrations

Generally the PM10 concentrations recorded at all the location in Accra are higher than the EPA-Ghana 24-hour PM-10 air quality guideline of 70 ug/m3 and the WHO Air quality guideline for 24-hour PM10 of 50ug/m3. (Ranged from 17-1114 ug/m3)

Generally, Pb, Mn, SO2, NO2, O3 concentrations are lower than EPA Ghana/WHO guidelines

30 August 2016 24