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Human health risks of inhalable exposure to PM2.5 in Pretoria, South Africa

Dissertation (MSc (Epidemiology))--University of Pretoria, 2020.

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Other Authors: Wichmann, Janine
Format: Thesis
Published: University of Pretoria 2020
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Wichmann, Janine
author_browse Wichmann, Janine
author_facet Wichmann, Janine
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Epidemiology))--University of Pretoria, 2020.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/73280
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:40:36.899Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2020
publishDateRange 2020
publishDateSort 2020
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/73280 Human health risks of inhalable exposure to PM2.5 in Pretoria, South Africa Wichmann, Janine u17242496@tuks.co.za Molnar, Peter Mwase, Nandi Sisasenkosi UCTD Air pollution Health risk assessment Meteorological conditions Exposure assessment Dissertation (MSc (Epidemiology))--University of Pretoria, 2020. Aim: The aim of this project was to measure PM2.5, soot, black carbon, and UV particulate matter, and assess the health risks PM2.5 poses to humans in Pretoria, as part of my MSc (Epidemiology) project. Design: The study is a two-part study combining an exposure assessment and Human Health Risk Assessment study. Setting: The study was conducted in an urban background area located in Pretoria, Gezina, South Africa. The area is mostly a residential area, away from the highway and without much heavy traffic. Data and method: Gravimetric analysis was used to determine PM2.5 concentrations every third day from 19 April 2019 to 23 April 2019. An estimate of possible health risks from exposure to airborne PM2.5 was performed using the USA Environmental Protection Agency human health risk assessment framework. A scenario-assessment approach was utilised, where normal (average exposure) and worst-case (continuous exposure) scenarios were developed for intermediate (24-hour) and chronic (annual) exposure periods for different exposure groups (infants, children, adults). Outcome measures: Absence of major adverse health effects from exposure to airborne pollutants. Results: The average annual ambient concentration of PM2.5 was 21.5 ± 13.6µg/m3, which was higher than the annual PM2.5 World Health Organization air quality guideline. Infants and children, rather than adults, are more likely to be affected by 24-hour exposure. Additionally, for chronic annual exposure, PM2.5 posed low health risks to sensitive individuals, with the severity of risk varying across exposed groups. Conclusion: Levels of PM2.5 posed a low health risk to people in Pretoria, however a follow-up study should investigate the risks posed by the PM2.5 chemical composition. It is recommended that the City of Tshwane Air Quality Management Plan, which is currently under review, addresses local and long-range sources of PM2.5 in the city. National Research Foundation (NRF) School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH) MSc (Epidemiology) Restricted 2020-02-14T11:24:34Z 2020-02-14T11:24:34Z 2020-05-08 2020 Dissertation * A2020 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/73280 © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Air pollution
Health risk assessment
Meteorological conditions
Exposure assessment
Human health risks of inhalable exposure to PM2.5 in Pretoria, South Africa
title Human health risks of inhalable exposure to PM2.5 in Pretoria, South Africa
title_full Human health risks of inhalable exposure to PM2.5 in Pretoria, South Africa
title_fullStr Human health risks of inhalable exposure to PM2.5 in Pretoria, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Human health risks of inhalable exposure to PM2.5 in Pretoria, South Africa
title_short Human health risks of inhalable exposure to PM2.5 in Pretoria, South Africa
title_sort human health risks of inhalable exposure to pm2 5 in pretoria south africa
topic UCTD
Air pollution
Health risk assessment
Meteorological conditions
Exposure assessment
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/73280