ORBi: Ozer Pierre - Estimation of air quality degradation due to Saharan dust at Nouakchott, Mauritania, from horizontal visibility data

Reference : Estimation of air quality degradation due to Saharan dust at Nouakchott, Mauritania, fro...


	Document type :	Scientific journals : Article
	Discipline(s) :	Life sciences : Environmental sciences & ecology Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences : Earth sciences & physical geography
	To cite this reference:	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/15717

Title :	Estimation of air quality degradation due to Saharan dust at Nouakchott, Mauritania, from horizontal visibility data
Language :	English
Author, co-author :	Ozer, Pierre [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement >]
	Laghdaf, MBOM [> > > >]
	Lemine, S. O. M. [> > > >]
	Gassani, J. [> > > >]
Publication date :	Jan-2007
Journal title :	Water, Air & Soil Pollution
Publisher :	Kluwer Academic Publishers
Volume :	178
Issue/season :	1-4
Pages :	79-87
Audience :	International
ISSN :	0049-6979
City :	Dordrecht
Country :	The Netherlands
Keywords :	[en] air quality ; TSP ; PM10 ; dust storms ; horizontal visibility ; Sahara ; Mauritania
Abstract :	[en] It is now irrefutable that air pollution caused by large amounts of Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) and respiratory particulates or Particulate Matter less than 10 mu m in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) has numerous undesired consequences on human health. Air quality degradation far from the African continent, in the US and in Europe, caused by high concentrations of African dust, is seen as a major threat even though most of these countries are very distant from the Sahara. Surprisingly, no estimates of TSP or PM10 levels near the Saharan dust source are available. Based on horizontal visibility observations which are reduced by the presence of dust in the atmosphere, TSP and PM10 levels are estimated throughout the year 2000 at Nouakchott-Airport, Mauritania, using relations found in the literature. It appears that concentrations of particles are significant both in terms magnitude and frequency, as the 24-hour PM10 thresholds established by the US EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards and the EU Limits Values for Air Quality were exceeded 86 and 137 times, respectively. The average annual concentration is far above air quality standards and estimated at 159 mu g m(-3) for TSP and 108 mu g m(-3) for PM10. These very high particulate levels are likely to represent an important public health hazard and should be considered as a major environmental risk.
Target :	Researchers ; Professionals
Permalink :	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/15717
DOI :	10.1007/s11270-006-9152-8
Other URL :	http://www.springerlink.com/content/x18673777052084k/

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