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Abstract
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Article Information:
Motor Vehicles Air Pollution in Nairobi, Kenya
G.O. Odhiambo, A.M. Kinyua, C.K. Gatebe and J. Awange
Corresponding Author: George Odhiambo
Submitted: 2010 May, 22
Accepted: 2010 June, 08
Published: 2010 October, 05 |
Abstract:
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Air quality monitoring in most developing countries is not routinely conducted, and in some urban
areas such information does not even exist, though signs of deteriorating air quality and health problems related
to air pollution are visible. By measuring air pollutants (i.e., Nitrogen Oxides, ozone, suspended particulates
matter (PM10), and trace elements e.g. lead), this study investigated air quality in Nairobi, one of the largest
cities in eastern Africa and the capital of Kenya. Sampling was done once a week from February to April 2003.
Hourly average concentrations of NOx and O3 were measured using a technique that is based on
"chemilumiscent" reaction at a site connecting two main highways in Nairobi (University and Uhuru) from 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PM10 was collected using “Gent” Stacked Filter Unit (SFU) air sampler fitted with nucleopore
filters (0.4 and 8.0 mm pore size for fine and coarse filters, respectively) that were analyzed for trace elements
by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescent (EDXRF) technique. An automatic vehicle counter was used for
determining the vehicle density at the sampling site. Results show that most pollutants, for example, lead (0.05
1 to 1.106 µg/m3), bromine (LLD to 0.43 µg/m3), NO2 (0.011-0.976 ppm), NO (0.001-0.2628 ppm) and O3
(LLD-0.1258 ppm) are within the WHO guidelines. PM10 levels (66.66 - 444.45 µg/m3) were above the WHO
guidelines for most of the days, with coarse particulate accounting for more than 70%. Strong correlation
(r = 0.966) between fine (0.4 µm) particulates, NOx, and motor vehicle density, indicate the importance of
traffic as a common source for both fine particulates and NOx.
Key words: EDXRF, gaseous pollutants, motor vehicles, PM10, trace elements, urban air pollution,
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Cite this Reference:
G.O. Odhiambo, A.M. Kinyua, C.K. Gatebe and J. Awange, . Motor Vehicles Air Pollution in Nairobi, Kenya. Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences, (4): Page No: 178-187.
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ISSN (Online): 2041-0492
ISSN (Print): 2041-0484 |
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