Browsing by Author "Kizza-Nkambwe, Sarah"

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    Effects of Lifting COVID-19 Lockdown on Ambient Air Particulate Matter and Associated Health Risk at Uganda Christian University’s Main Campus, Mukono
    (Texila International Journal, 2020-09-30) Mukooza, Edward Kibikyo; Kizza-Nkambwe, Sarah
    Lockdowns control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus and are associated with improved air quality. Uganda imposed a lockdown beginning March 18th and begun easing it on the 2nd of June 2020. This study analysed ambient air PM2.5 at Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) main campus during and after the lockdown. Health risk reflected by avoidable premature deaths associated with poorer air quality due to lifting of the lockdown was also estimated. Laser particle counter, Purple Air PA-II, measured ambient Air PM2.5 concentration at UCU main campus for the lockdown period of 8th April to 30th June 2020. Excel Toolpak was used for data analysis and the health risk assessed with the World Health Organisation’s AirQ+ tool. The 24-hour ambient mean PM2.5 count was 16.61 μg/m³ during the lockdown and it increased to 35.57 μg/m³ on lifting of the lockdown. The increased PM2.5 is associated with a higher risk of preventable premature deaths. Vehicles using adjacent roadways were the likely source of ambient air PM2.5 at UCU. Ambient air PM2.5 during the lockdown was moderate on the Air Quality Index and it deteriorated to unhealthy for sensitive people during the lifting of the lockdown which raised the risk of preventable premature deaths. Air quality at UCU main campus could be improved by planting a wide vegetation fence next to the adjacent roads, using cleaner fuel in the University’s kitchen, lobbying for paving Bishop Road and placing new buildings away from roads. These would improve health including Covid-19 outcomes.
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    Health Risk Associated with Near-Road Ambient Air Concentration of Particulate Matter in Mukono Municipal Council, Uganda
    (Texila International Journals, 2021-03-31) Mukooza, Edward Kibikyo; Kizza-Nkambwe, Sarah
    More than 98% of urban centres exceeding 100,000 people in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), do not meet the WHO air quality limits. Data on air pollution from LMICs is scarce. We measured the mean concentrations of near-road PM2.5 in the period of Aug.-Dec. 2020, described the Mukono Municipality’s near-road populations’ exposure to PM2.5, and assessed the associated health risk. PurpleAir PA-II laser particle counters, measured near-road ambient air PM2.5 concentration in Mukono Municipality during the period of 09/1/20 to 12/04/20. Excel Toolpak was used for data analysis and the health risk assessed with the WHO AirQ+ tool. The mean ambient near–road PM2.5 in Mukono Municipality were 30.97, 33.84 and 47.74 ug/m3for background, near-unpaved and near-paved roads, respectively. Mukono Municipality’s population was exposed to ambient PM2.5 concentrations higher than the WHO annual limit of 10 ug/m3. This level of air pollution is associated with preventable annual premature deaths of up to 133.11 per 100,000 population. Vehicles were assumed to be the predominant source of near-road ambient air PM2.5 pollution. The Municipality’s population was exposed to near-road ambient air PM2.5 exceeding the WHO annual limit by as much as *4.7 for the paved roads, *3.3 for the unpaved roads and *3 for the background. This leads to increased risk of preventable premature deaths in the Municipality.Mukono Municipality could monitor PM2.5; guide developers to placebuildings more than 100 meters away from roadsides and should promotepolicies for newer vehicles on Ugandan roads.