Assessment of particulate matter concentrations and air quality index during road construction-related activities in Ghana
Abstract Road construction involves activities that emit pollutants, including particulate matter, which harms humans. This study determined and compared particulate matter (PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10) levels and air quality index (AQI) at unpaved roads, asphalt overlay, chip-sealed and asphalt-producing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Discover Environment |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-024-00172-9 |
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| author | Isaac Kofi Yankson Samuel Okyere Fred Wireko-Manu Emmanuel Dugan Akua Fosua Ampomah Emmanuel Acquah Ebenezer Yeboah-Adjei Paul Okyere Akua Koaso Yalley Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi Peter Donkor Charles Mock Francis Kwaku Afukaar |
| author_facet | Isaac Kofi Yankson Samuel Okyere Fred Wireko-Manu Emmanuel Dugan Akua Fosua Ampomah Emmanuel Acquah Ebenezer Yeboah-Adjei Paul Okyere Akua Koaso Yalley Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi Peter Donkor Charles Mock Francis Kwaku Afukaar |
| author_sort | Isaac Kofi Yankson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Road construction involves activities that emit pollutants, including particulate matter, which harms humans. This study determined and compared particulate matter (PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10) levels and air quality index (AQI) at unpaved roads, asphalt overlay, chip-sealed and asphalt-producing sites in Ghana and the health risks posed by their exposure. It was conducted in the Ashanti and Ahafo Regions, Ghana and was cross-sectional using the low-cost sensor, PCE-RCM16. Data collection took place, January-May, 2020. The asphalt-producing, asphalt overlay, chip-sealed and unpaved road sites had mean PM10 concentrations of 12.7-fold, 7.4-fold, 6.1-fold and 2.6-fold respectively of the 2021 World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guideline (AQG) daily limit, 45 μg m−3. The mean PM2.5 concentrations were 30.4-fold, 17.2-fold, 14.1-fold and 6.1-fold greater than the daily AQG limit, 15 μg m−3 respectively. The mean PM1.0 values were of grave concern. Using the AQI, the asphalt-producing and asphalt overlay sites were considered “hazardous”, chip-sealed site was “very unhealthy” and the unpaved sites were “unhealthy for sensitive groups”. Type of activity influenced pollution levels (p < 0.01). All the sites were polluted above the WHO limits. Authorities should ensure the wearing of personal protective equipment, strict adherence to the WHO AQG and apply appropriate sanctions to offending firms/workers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-648833b0faea4ad7a9dbf2bf94a8daf8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-9431 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-648833b0faea4ad7a9dbf2bf94a8daf82025-08-20T02:20:48ZengSpringerDiscover Environment2731-94312024-12-012111010.1007/s44274-024-00172-9Assessment of particulate matter concentrations and air quality index during road construction-related activities in GhanaIsaac Kofi Yankson0Samuel Okyere1Fred Wireko-Manu2Emmanuel Dugan3Akua Fosua Ampomah4Emmanuel Acquah5Ebenezer Yeboah-Adjei6Paul Okyere7Akua Koaso Yalley8Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi9Peter Donkor10Charles Mock11Francis Kwaku Afukaar12Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI)University of EducationCouncil for Scientific and Industrial Research-Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI)Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Soil Research Institute (CSIR-SRI)Gold Fields Ghana LimitedFaculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyCouncil for Scientific and Industrial Research-Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI)School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of GhanaCouncil for Scientific and Industrial Research-Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI)Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital & School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyUniversity of WashingtonCouncil for Scientific and Industrial Research-Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI)Abstract Road construction involves activities that emit pollutants, including particulate matter, which harms humans. This study determined and compared particulate matter (PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10) levels and air quality index (AQI) at unpaved roads, asphalt overlay, chip-sealed and asphalt-producing sites in Ghana and the health risks posed by their exposure. It was conducted in the Ashanti and Ahafo Regions, Ghana and was cross-sectional using the low-cost sensor, PCE-RCM16. Data collection took place, January-May, 2020. The asphalt-producing, asphalt overlay, chip-sealed and unpaved road sites had mean PM10 concentrations of 12.7-fold, 7.4-fold, 6.1-fold and 2.6-fold respectively of the 2021 World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guideline (AQG) daily limit, 45 μg m−3. The mean PM2.5 concentrations were 30.4-fold, 17.2-fold, 14.1-fold and 6.1-fold greater than the daily AQG limit, 15 μg m−3 respectively. The mean PM1.0 values were of grave concern. Using the AQI, the asphalt-producing and asphalt overlay sites were considered “hazardous”, chip-sealed site was “very unhealthy” and the unpaved sites were “unhealthy for sensitive groups”. Type of activity influenced pollution levels (p < 0.01). All the sites were polluted above the WHO limits. Authorities should ensure the wearing of personal protective equipment, strict adherence to the WHO AQG and apply appropriate sanctions to offending firms/workers.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-024-00172-9Particulate matter pollutionAir quality indexRoad constructionGhanaHuman health risks |
| spellingShingle | Isaac Kofi Yankson Samuel Okyere Fred Wireko-Manu Emmanuel Dugan Akua Fosua Ampomah Emmanuel Acquah Ebenezer Yeboah-Adjei Paul Okyere Akua Koaso Yalley Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi Peter Donkor Charles Mock Francis Kwaku Afukaar Assessment of particulate matter concentrations and air quality index during road construction-related activities in Ghana Discover Environment Particulate matter pollution Air quality index Road construction Ghana Human health risks |
| title | Assessment of particulate matter concentrations and air quality index during road construction-related activities in Ghana |
| title_full | Assessment of particulate matter concentrations and air quality index during road construction-related activities in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of particulate matter concentrations and air quality index during road construction-related activities in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of particulate matter concentrations and air quality index during road construction-related activities in Ghana |
| title_short | Assessment of particulate matter concentrations and air quality index during road construction-related activities in Ghana |
| title_sort | assessment of particulate matter concentrations and air quality index during road construction related activities in ghana |
| topic | Particulate matter pollution Air quality index Road construction Ghana Human health risks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-024-00172-9 |
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