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Open access Aug 2026

Assessment of PM₂.₅ related health impacts along a major traffic corridor in Lagos using the WHO AirQ⁺ model

Air pollution from fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) poses a significant environmental health challenge in rapidly urbanizing African cities. Lagos, Nigeria, experiences severe traffic congestion and elevated ambient PM₂.₅ concentrations, yet localized estimates of associated health impacts remain limited. This study applies the World Health Organization’s AirQ⁺ model to quantify mortality attributable to PM₂.₅ exposure along the Ikeja traffic corridor, a representative high-traffic urban environment. Ambient PM₂.₅ concentrations were monitored using a high-resolution SNAQ sensor over four months (November 2018–February 2019), yielding a mean concentration of 73.75 µg/m3 and peaks exceeding 123 µg/m3. Population data for Ikeja (≈475,000 residents) and cause-specific mortality rates from the Institute for Health Metrics and national statistics were used as model inputs. Using the study-period mean concentration, AirQ⁺ estimated that acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) accounted for the largest number of attributable deaths over the four-month period (4,131; 520 per 100,000 population), while lung cancer (54.1%) and ischemic heart disease (50.8%) showed the highest attributable fractions. Weekly and monthly analyses revealed that even modest fluctuations in PM₂.₅ levels could meaningfully influence respiratory and cardiovascular mortality. Scenario analysis indicates that a 10% reduction in PM₂.₅ concentrations could prevent more than 1,400 premature deaths, highlighting the potential health benefits of targeted emission control and traffic management strategies. These findings underscore the substantial burden of traffic-related PM₂.₅ exposure in Lagos and provide critical evidence to guide urban air quality interventions and public health policy in rapidly developing African megacities.

O. A. Babatunde, Olanrewaju B. Fayemi, L. Sunmonu et al. · 0 citations
Open access Jul 2026

The impact of air pollution on paediatric hospital admissions for acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, during Hajj events.

It is suggested that NO2, but not PM10, was associated with ALRI admissions during Hajj, highlighting the need for Hajj-focused traffic-emission control and child health protection strategies in Makkah.

Albaraa A. Milibari, I. Hanigan, H. Badri et al. · 0 citations
Open access Aug 2026

Indoor Air Quality and Associated Public Health Impact in AC and Non‐AC Environments: A Case Study on Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Indoo air pollution poses a critical public health risk, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions like Bangladesh, where inadequate ventilation and climatic conditions intensify exposure risks. This study investigated seasonal and diurnal variations in indoor air quality (IAQ) across AC and Non‐AC environments in Mymensingh, assessing compliance, pollutant correlations, and quantification of health risks (ELCR, HQ). Measurements of PM 1 , PM 2.5 , PM 10 , TVOCs, HCHO, temperature, and humidity were taken from 56 rooms (28 AC, 28 Non‐AC) during the monsoon and post‐monsoon seasons using real‐time monitors. During the post‐monsoon season, PM 2.5 levels in Non‐AC rooms reached 123.29 µg/m 3 in the afternoon, compared to 79.79 µg/m 3 in AC rooms, while PM 10 concentrations peaked at 145.32 µg/m 3 in Non‐AC environments and 89.75 µg/m 3 in AC rooms. TVOC levels were highest in AC rooms, reaching 884 µg/m 3 , likely due to limited ventilation, and HCHO concentrations in AC spaces (301.14 µg/m 3 ) consistently exceeded WHO guidelines. Temperature and humidity influenced pollutant dynamics, with PM levels positively correlated with temperature and HCHO negatively correlated. Health risk assessments revealed significant hazards during the post‐monsoon season, with children in Non‐AC environments facing high estimated lifetime cancer risks (ELCR) from PM 1 (5.16E‐03) and PM 2.5 (2.7E‐03), while AC environments showed elevated risks from HCHO (8.75E‐06). Hazard Quotients (HQ) for PM 2.5 (9.30) and PM 10 (3.21) in Non‐AC environments reached alarming levels, indicating severe non‐carcinogenic risks. Source apportionment using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) identified distinct pollutant sources, underscoring the complex interplay of indoor and outdoor factors. Spatial analysis highlighted central urban zones as high‐risk areas due to traffic emissions and commercial activities. These findings emphasize the dual burden of particulate exposure in Non‐AC spaces and chemical accumulation in AC environments, influenced by seasonal shifts. Policy reforms focusing on source reduction, improved building codes, and public awareness are crucial to mitigate health disparities in tropical urban settings.

Md. Monabbir Hossain, M. Sojib, Md. Azharul Islam et al. · 0 citations
Open access Jul 2026

TEMPORAL AND SEASONAL TRENDS OF AMBIENT PM2.5 AND PM10 CONCENTRATIONS IN PUDUCHERRY, INDIA, 2021-2025: A CROSS-SECTIONAL TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS

Background: Particulate matter is a major ambient air pollutant with important implications for respiratory, cardiovascular and population health. Local evidence on long-term PM2.5 and PM10 trends is needed for air quality surveillance and public health planning in smaller coastal urban settings such as Puducherry. Objectives: To assess annual, monthly and seasonal trends of 24-hour average PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in Puducherry from 2021 to 2025, and to quantify exceedance of World Health Organization (WHO) guideline values and Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Methods: A cross-sectional time-series analysis was conducted using daily 24-hour average PM2.5 and PM10 observations from the Jawahar Nagar, Puducherry monitoring dataset for 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025. Seasons were classified as winter (January-February), summer (March-May), monsoon (June-September) and post-monsoon (October-December). Descriptive statistics, annual and seasonal comparisons, exceedance analysis, Spearman correlation and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used. Missing observations were excluded by available-case analysis. Results: Of 1,826 calendar days, valid observations were available for 1,762 PM2.5 days and 1,753 PM10 days. Annual mean PM2.5 ranged from 20.20 ± 13.89 µg/m³ in 2021 to 26.60 ± 19.09 µg/m³ in 2025. Annual mean PM10 ranged from 41.88 ± 19.17 µg/m³ in 2024 to 51.97 ± 21.64 µg/m³ in 2023. All annual means were below Indian annual NAAQS values for PM2.5 and PM10, but daily WHO 2021 guideline exceedance was frequent. PM2.5 exceeded the WHO 24-hour guideline on 52.9% to 68.2% of valid days across years, whereas PM10 exceeded it on 36.1% to 59.2% of valid days. Seasonal variation was significant for both PM2.5 and PM10 (both p<0.001), with winter and post-monsoon generally showing higher concentrations and monsoon showing lower concentrations. PM2.5 and PM10 were strongly correlated overall (Spearman ρ=0.870, p<0.001). Conclusion: Puducherry showed moderate annual particulate concentrations by Indian annual standards, but substantial daily exceedance of WHO guideline values and clear seasonal peaks. Continuous monitoring, season-specific mitigation and source-oriented control strategies are warranted.

Balachandar V, Prahankumar R, J. J · 0 citations
Open access Aug 2026

Concentrations and Health Implications of PM2.5, PM10, and Gaseous Pollutants in Communities near Ibom Power Company, Ikot Abasi, Nigeria

Particulate Matter (PM) exposure from ambient air has been linked to a number of ailments, and monitoring is necessary in every industrial areas or centers to identify overexposure early. This study's assessed the concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and related gaseous pollutants in Ibom Power Company, Ikot Abasi, Nigeria, including carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO, and O3 at three chosen towns surrounding Ibom Power Company were measured using an aerosol mass monitor. The hazard quotient (HQ) of the average hourly dose (AHD) and average daily dose (ADD) exposures to the particles was calculated using the obtained values. The findings showed that, with the exception of Ikpetim, where the values (5.26±0.21 and 5.16±0.20 μg/m3) were below the permitted limits, all of the villages had PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels over the 15μg/m3 permissible range advised by the WHO. With the exception of Ikpetim, where the NO2 value was within the limit, all settlements had CO and NO2 values over the 25μg/m3 and 7μg/m3 acceptable levels, respectively. In the meantime, O3 levels were within allowable bounds (<100μg/m3) in every community. In several places, the HQ of the ADD was higher than 1, yet the HQ of the AHD of the pollutants was below the threshold of 1. The findings suggest that daily exposure to PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and CO in certain areas can have detrimental effects on residents' health. It is recommended that government agencies responsible for health and the environment develop policies aimed at reducing pollution, and power plants should not be located near residential areas, but specific areas should be designated for power plant siting.

Ioryue Ijah Silas, Augustine Uche Abel, Idongesit Sunday Ambrose et al. · 0 citations
Open access Jul 2026

Indoor air pollutant exposure and respiratory health risk assessment in urban healthcare facilities: a comparative study of public and private sectors

Aim: Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a critical component of occupational health in hospitals, where healthcare workers face exposure to particulates and clinical chemical vapours. Prolonged exposure to these environments is linked to an increased incidence of chronic respiratory conditions. This study aimed to quantify the indoor concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), formaldehyde (HCHO), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in public and private tertiary healthcare facilities in Benin City, Nigeria, and to evaluate the associated non−carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks for personnel. Methods: IAQ was monitored in triplicate at high-occupancy sampling points over an eight-week period using handheld digital monitors. Health risks were assessed using hazard quotient (HQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) models. Additionally, a structured questionnaire was administered to 152 hospital workers to correlate environmental data with self-reported respiratory symptoms. Results: The PM2.5 and TVOC levels frequently exceeded the WHO guidelines in both facilities. The private facility exhibited alarming HCHO concentrations, particularly in the emergency (HQ = 10.04) and laboratory (HQ = 8.86) units, indicating risks up to ten times the safety threshold. Similarly, the ILCR exceeded the 1.0 × 10−4 threshold at the highest exposure site, reaching a peak of 1.49 × 10−4. Coughing (78.3%) was the most prevalent symptom. Notably, compared with workers in the private sector, workers in public hospitals faced significantly greater respiratory burdens, with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 3.009 (95% CI: 1.277–7.088) for persistent cough and an AOR of 2.681 (95% CI: 1.093–6.578) for chest pain. Conclusions: Hospital indoor air poses severe toxicological and carcinogenic risks. Immediate implementation of advanced mechanical ventilation and specialized filtration is needed to safeguard healthcare personnel.

A. F. Eghomwanre, Henrietta Onyinye Ogbebor · 0 citations