Analysis of air quality in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

UNLABELLED: Ambient air quality was monitored and analyzed to develop air quality index and its implications for livability and climate change in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Using survey research design, 16 georeferenced locations, representing different land uses, were randomly selected and assessed for sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO),volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and meteorological parameters (temperature and relative humidity). The study found mean concentrations across all land uses for SO2 of 0.37 ± 0.08 ppm, NO2 of 0.13 ± 0.17 ppm, CO2 of 465.65 ± 28.63 ppm, CO of 3.35 ± 2.04 ppm, and VOCs of 1850.67 ± 402 ppm. An air quality index indicated that ambient air quality for SO2 was very poor, NO2 ranged from moderate to very poor, whereas CO rating was moderate. Significant positive correlations existed between temperature and NO2, CO2, and CO and between humidity and VOCs. Significant relationships were also recorded between CO2 and NO2 and between CO and CO2. Poor urban planning, inadequate pollution control measure, and weak capacity to monitor air quality have implications for energy usage, air quality, and local meteorological parameters, with subsequent feedback into global climate change. Implementation of programs to monitor and control emissions in order to reduce air pollution will provide health, economic, and environmental benefits to the city.

IMPLICATIONS: The need to develop and implement emission control programs to reduce air pollution in Dire Dawa City is urgent. This will provide enormous economic, health, and environmental benefits. It is expected that economic effects of air quality improvement will offset the expenditures for pollution control. Also, strategies that focus on air quality and climate change present a unique opportunity to engage different stakeholders in providing inclusive and sustainable development agenda for Dire Dawa.