12 Nigerian cities record unsafe levels of air pollution
A new interactive map by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) has provided data showing air pollution levels across different cities in the world, suggesting that at least 12 Nigerian cities significantly overshoot internationally acceptable air safety levels.
Air pollution has become a growing concern in recent times, with an increasing number of acute air pollution episodes recorded in many cities worldwide. As a result, data on air quality is becoming increasingly available and the science underlying the related health impacts is also evolving rapidly.
According to the data by WHO and CCAC, Nigeria’s air pollution is rated at an annual average of 9 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles, which is considered to be 10 percent below the WHO safe level. Although the country is generally rated to fall within the WHO air safety level, at least 12 Nigerian cities are failing the set parameters, considered to be unsafe and having polluted air. The top illness caused by air pollution in the country is acute lower respiratory infection. As at 2012, WHO estimates 46,750 people die from an air pollution-related disease each year, out of which 22 are children.
The cities failing air safety parameters include; Kaduna, Ile-Ife, Onitsha, Nnewi, Abakaliki, Afikpo, Owerri, Orlu, Aba, Umuahia, Enugu and Nsukka.
In Kaduna, the quality of air is rated an annual average of 90 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles which is 9 times the WHO safe level. The air in Ile-Ife, Osun State has an annual average of 26 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles; rated 2.6 times the WHO safe level. In Onitsha, Anambra state, the quality of air is rated at an annual average of 66 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles which is 6.6 times the WHO safe level. Nnewi, also in Anambra state has an annual average of 24 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles, rated 2.4 times the WHO safe level.
Also, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state has an annual average of 28 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles, considered by WHO to be 2.8 times the safe level. The air in Afikpo, also in Ebonyi has an annual average of 25 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles, that is rated 2.5 times the WHO safe level. Owerri, Imo State has an annual average of 44 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles which is 4.4 times the WHO safe level, similarly, Orlu, also in Imo state has an annual average of 16 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles. That’s 60% more than WHO safe level while the air in Aba, Abia State has an annual average of 49 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles, considered 4.9 times the WHO safe level. Umuahia, Abia State’s capital has an annual average of 40 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles which is 4 times the WHO safe level.
The air in Enugu city has an annual average of 15 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles, rated 50% more than WHO safe level. The air in Nsukka, Enugu state has an annual average of 14 µg/m3 of PM2.5 particles which is 40% more than WHO safe level.
Desmond Majekodunmi, a renowned environmentalist, tells BusinessDay that air pollution is “mainly caused by burning and also fuel which is the most dangerous part of air pollution especially diesel. Diesel has particles which go deep into the lungs and when people breath in too much of that, it can cause terrible problems in the lungs, from lung cancer to all sorts of sicknesses. That is one of the major causes of death from air pollution.
“Air polution side effects rest on the lungs (an important part of the respiratory system) potentially leading to an increase in asthma and other respiratory infections,” says Lanre Yusuf, a medical doctor.
Yusuf further explains “Aba is an industrial city, Enugu state is known for coal and Kano has a lot of mega factories where they spill out a lot of chemicals, generate power and a lot of waste that produces carbonoxides.
The group of two extremes of life that are more affected are children below seven years of age and the very elderly the people.”
Flavia Bustreo, assistant director general at WHO noted that “the new WHO air quality model confirms that 92% of the world’s population lives in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits, it shows countries where the air pollution danger spots are, and provides a baseline for monitoring progress in combating it.”
Majekodunmi says pollution can be kept in check in Nigeria, explaining that “One thing that can be done is to have certified emission tests on all our vehicles, Lorries, cars etc. Any vehicle that is seen with heavy smoke pouring out behind should be stopped immediately from driving on the street.
“Those allowing such vehicles on the road are guilty of being part of a process that could harm the environment,” he says.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH, with wired reports