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ABSTRACT
Globally, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 µm or less poses a significant threat to human health. The first step in quantifying human health impacts caused by exposure to PM2.5 pollution is exposure assessment. Population-weighted exposure level (PWEL) estimation is one of the methods that provides a more precise exposure assessment since it incorporates the spatiotemporal distribution of population with the pollution concentration estimate. In this study, PM2.5 exposure levels in the local communities around brickmaking industries were investigated, using the population census data of the study area and 1-year data from nine PM2.5 monitoring stations installed in and around the brickmaking industries. The observed PM2.5 data was spatially interpolated using inverse distance weight (IDW). Data on PM2.5 levels across the study area were classified based on the World Health Organization interim target (IT) guidelines and the South African National ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). An annual PM2.5 population weighted exposure level of 27.6 µg/m3 was estimated for the study area. However, seasonal exposure levels of 28.9, 37.6, 26.5, and 20.7 µg/m3 were estimated for the autumn, winter, spring, and summer seasons, respectively. This implies that local communities around the brick kiln in the Vhembe District are exposed to high levels of PM2.5, especially in winter. The PM2.5 levels in the brickmaking industries as well as its other sources in the Vhembe District, therefore, need to be lowered. Findings from population exposure level to pollutants can provide valuable data for formulating policies and recommendations on exposure reduction and public health protection.
Implications: PM2.5 concentration in any given environment has high spatial and temporal variability due to the presence of diffused sources in the environment. Using ambient air concentrations to directly estimate population exposure without taking into consideration the disproportionate spatial and temporal distribution of the pollutant and the population may not yield accurate results on human exposure levels. It is, therefore, important to assess the aggregated PM2.5 exposure of a populace within a given area. This study therefore examines the PM2.5 population-weighted-exposure level of the host communities of the brickmaking industry in Vhembe District, South Africa.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank the members of the Climatology Research Group (CRG) of the Northwest University for their assistance during data analysis.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available in the article.
Author contributions
Conceptualisation: T.E.A and S.J.P, Resources: S.P.; Writing – original draft: T.E.A; Supervision: S.J.P and J.N.E.; Proof reading: J.N.E. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Additional information
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Notes on contributors
Tolulope Elizabeth Aniyikaiye
Tolulope Elizabeth Aniyikaiye is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at the University of Venda. Her areas of interest include air quality monitoring, modelling, pollutants transport, and impacts on human health. Her current research focuses on assessment and modelling of particulate matter from the brick manufacturing industries in Vhembe District, South Africa.
Stuart J. Piketh
Stuart Piketh obtained his Ph.D. at the University of the Witwatersrand where he also served as a Reeder and Director of the Climatology Research Group. In 2012, he joined North-West University as a Professor and Co-Chair of the Eskom Power Plant Engineering Institute – Emissions Control. He is currently the Director of the School of Geo- and Spatial Science and the Co-Vice Chair of the International Commission of Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (ICACGP). He is an NRF B2-rated scientist and a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. In the last decade he has led research in atmospheric science specialising in comprehending air pollution emissions, transport, and impacts with much emphasis on understanding air pollution in low income settlements in South Africa and the atmospheric aerosol characteristics along the west coast of Namibia.
Joshua Nosa Edokpayi
Joshua Nosa Edokpayi earned his doctorate from the University of Venda in South Africa and completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Virginia in the United States. He is an NRF (National Research Foundation) rated researcher and a member of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS). He is involved in teaching and postgraduate training. He is currently an Associate Professor and the academic leader of Mini-Habitable Planet Workshop (Mini-HPW) affiliated with the Applied Centre for Climate Change and Earth Systems Science (ACCESS) at the University of Venda. His research interests include pollution assessment, impact, and mitigation strategies of the environmental media including soil, air, and water.