20172

Air Pollution Index of Total Suspended Particulates and its Health Concerns at a Heavy Traffic Street in Alexandria, Egypt: Case Study

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Last updated: 03 Jan 2025

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Abstract

Background: Air pollution index is not applied in Egypt up till now. Objectives: This study is a trial to apply the concept of air pollution index  (API) to assess the air quality and its health concerns at one of the heavy traffic streets in Alexandria; Egypt. Methods: This was a case study that was conducted over one year, the setting of which was one of the heavy traffic streets. The total suspended particulate matter (TSP) was sampled using "High Volume Air Sampler," for 24 hours/day with simultaneous measurement of local meteorological parameters. Results: The total suspended particulates exceeded the National Standards during 78 measurement days out of 84 (92.9%). Application of air pollution index revealed that 19% of the measurement days were of good air quality, 28.6% harmful for sensitive groups, 20.2% unhealthful for the public, 15.5% very unhealthy, and 16.7% hazardous to the public. Conclusion: Traffic concentrations of TSP at the streets under study exceeded the Egyptian National Standards during all weekdays and all months throughout the year. The air quality during the working days (Sunday to Thursday) was unhealthy to the general population. The API was the highest during Spring Season. Application of an air pollution control strategy with generalization and communication of air pollution index in Egypt were recommended.

DOI

10.21608/jhiph.2011.20172

Keywords

Air pollution index, Air Quality, total suspended particulate, traffic pollution, sensitive groups

Authors

First Name

Gehan R

Last Name

Zaki

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Occupational Health and Air Pollution Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

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Volume

41

Article Issue

4

Related Issue

4057

Issue Date

2011-10-01

Receive Date

2018-12-01

Publish Date

2011-10-01

Page Start

425

Page End

438

Print ISSN

2357-0601

Online ISSN

2357-061X

Link

https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_20172.html

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https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=20172

Order

3

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Original Article

Type Code

511

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Journal of High Institute of Public Health

Publication Link

https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Air Pollution Index of Total Suspended Particulates and its Health Concerns at a Heavy Traffic Street in Alexandria, Egypt: Case Study

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023