Patrick D M C Katoto1, Liliane Byamungu2, Amanda S Brand3, Jolynne Mokaya4, Hans Strijdom5, Nandu Goswami6, Patrick De Boever7, Tim S Nawrot8, Benoit Nemery9. 1. Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, and Expertise Centre on Mining Governance (CEGEMI), Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Congo. Electronic address: patrick.katoto@kuleuven.be. 2. Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa. Electronic address: byamungu.nsuli@gmail.com. 3. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: anibrand85@gmail.com. 4. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya. Electronic address: mokayajolynne@yahoo.com. 5. Division of Medical Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: jgstr@sun.ac.za. 6. Department of Physiology and Otto Loewi Research Centre, Medical University of Graz, Austria. Electronic address: nandu.goswami@medunigraz.at. 7. Environmental Risk and Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium. Electronic address: patrick.deboever@vito.be. 8. Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium. Electronic address: tim.nawrot@uhasselt.be. 9. Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: ben.nemery@kuleuven.be.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: People from low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by the global burden of adverse health effects caused by ambient air pollution (AAP). However, data from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are still scarce. We systematically reviewed the literature to describe the existing knowledge on AAP and health outcomes in SSA. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Medline-OVID, EMBASE and Scopus databases to identify studies of AAP and health outcomes published up to November 15, 2017. We used a systematic review approach to critically analyze and summarize levels of outdoor air pollutants, and data on health effects associated with AAP. We excluded occupational and indoor exposure studies. RESULTS: We identified 60 articles, with 37 only describing levels of AAP and 23 assessing the association between air pollution and health outcomes. Most studies (75%) addressing the relation between AAP and disease were cross-sectional. In general, exposure data were only obtained for selected cities in the framework of temporary international collaborative research initiatives without structural long-term continuation. Measurements of AAP revealed 10-20 fold higher levels than WHO standards. Of the 23 studies reporting health effects, 14 originated from South Africa, and most countries within SSA contributed no data at all. No studies, except from South Africa, were based on reliable morbidity or mortality statistics at regional or country level. The majority of studies investigated self-reported respiratory symptoms. Children and the elderly were found to be more susceptible to AAP. CONCLUSION: AAP and its negative health effects have been understudied in SSA compared with other continents. The limited direct measurements of air pollutants indicate that AAP in SAA cities is high compared with international standards. Efforts are needed to monitor AAP in African cities, to identify its main sources, and to reduce adverse health effects by enforcing legislation.
BACKGROUND:People from low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by the global burden of adverse health effects caused by ambient air pollution (AAP). However, data from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are still scarce. We systematically reviewed the literature to describe the existing knowledge on AAP and health outcomes in SSA. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Medline-OVID, EMBASE and Scopus databases to identify studies of AAP and health outcomes published up to November 15, 2017. We used a systematic review approach to critically analyze and summarize levels of outdoor air pollutants, and data on health effects associated with AAP. We excluded occupational and indoor exposure studies. RESULTS: We identified 60 articles, with 37 only describing levels of AAP and 23 assessing the association between air pollution and health outcomes. Most studies (75%) addressing the relation between AAP and disease were cross-sectional. In general, exposure data were only obtained for selected cities in the framework of temporary international collaborative research initiatives without structural long-term continuation. Measurements of AAP revealed 10-20 fold higher levels than WHO standards. Of the 23 studies reporting health effects, 14 originated from South Africa, and most countries within SSA contributed no data at all. No studies, except from South Africa, were based on reliable morbidity or mortality statistics at regional or country level. The majority of studies investigated self-reported respiratory symptoms. Children and the elderly were found to be more susceptible to AAP. CONCLUSION: AAP and its negative health effects have been understudied in SSA compared with other continents. The limited direct measurements of air pollutants indicate that AAP in SAA cities is high compared with international standards. Efforts are needed to monitor AAP in African cities, to identify its main sources, and to reduce adverse health effects by enforcing legislation.
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