Air Pollution Index of Total Suspended Particulates and its Health Concerns at a Heavy Traffic Street in Alexandria , Egypt : Case Study

Background: Air pollution index is not applied in Egypt up till now. Objectives: This study is a trial to apply the concept of air pollution index (API) to assess the air quality and its health concerns at one of the heavy traffic streets in Alexandria; Egypt. Methods: This was a case study that was conducted over one year, the setting of which was one of the heavy traffic streets. The total suspended particulate matter (TSP) was sampled using "High Volume Air Sampler," for 24 hours/day with simultaneous measurement of local meteorological parameters. Results: The total suspended particulates exceeded the National Standards during 78 measurement days out of 84 (92.9%). Application of air pollution index revealed that 19% of the measurement days were of good air quality, 28.6% harmful for sensitive groups, 20.2% unhealthful for the public, 15.5% very unhealthy, and 16.7% hazardous to the public. Conclusion: Traffic concentrations of TSP at the streets under study exceeded the Egyptian National Standards during all weekdays and all months throughout the year. The air quality during the working days (Sunday to Thursday) was unhealthy to the general population. The API was the highest during Spring Season. Application of an air pollution control strategy with generalization and communication of air pollution index in Egypt were recommended.


INTRODUCTION
Alexandria is the second city in Egypt and the main sea port of the country.The number of private cars within Alexandria streets continuously increases.Consequently, this increases the traffic congestion, with its negative impacts on the City air quality.Their health effects range from irritation of eye, nose and throat to exacerbation of respiratory diseases and mortality.(3,4)   Economic outcomes of TSP comprise potential impact on tourism, and crop damage.
The TSP is used as an air pollution indicator in many studies in Kosovo, (5) Hong Kong, (6)   India, (7) and Egypt. ( The Egyptian standard for TSP in the  (10) In Egypt, the API is not used, until now.
This study is a trial to apply the concept of air pollution index of total suspended particulates to assess air quality and its health concerns at one of the heavy traffic streets in Alexandria; Egypt.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This was a case study, the setting of reference methods. (11,12)The sample was collected on a pre-conditioned weighed        The air pollution index (API) was the lowest during Friday (weekends) of the least traffic congestion.This was compatible with the result of the Egyptian study (22) and contradictory with the Japanese one in which TSP did not vary much between weekends.The values of air pollution index (API) were the lowest during the rainy months (February, January, March, and December).
This may be attributed to the precipitation that supports deposition of particulate matter out of the atmosphere.
(26, 27) The highest levels of TSP and API were observed during April, May, and June (Spring Season).This may be due to blowing of Khamaseen wind that carries dust from western desert. (28)This result was well-matched with that of the Egyptian (18) and Brazilian studies.
which also may increase hospital admission with respiratory (30) and cardiopulmonary (31)   diseases.So the general population must be advised to reduce or avoid strenuous physical activity and increase the frequency of using a reliever inhaler for sensitive groups.
(24, 25) The high levels of TSP and API may explain the lower productivity of the overall Egyptians.
Hence, the ministries of environment, health, industry and the interior must develop and apply a strict air quality management system to reduce these oppressive levels.

( 1 )
Total suspended particulates (TSP) are atmospheric particles smaller than 40-50 µm aerodynamic diameters.They exist as discrete particles (liquid droplets or solids) Bull High Inst Public Health Vol.41 No.4 [2011] over a wide range of sizes.Particles originate from a variety of stationary and traffic sources and may be emitted directly or formed within the atmosphere by conversion of gaseous emissions.They include dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets.Total suspended particulates have great impacts on human health, and economy.They may cause visibility degradation, smoke and odor nuisance, all of which lead to human discomfort and reduced enjoyment of the environment.
8×10 inches glass-fiber filter.The collected TSP samples were determined gravimetrically using a four digits analytical balance SERARTORIUS-WERKE-GMBH, Germany.The weather station was placed and used for measurement of the local barometric pressure, air temperature, air direction using a weather station, WHEATHERMAX, Maximum Inc.The installation and measurements were conducted according to the US-EPA standard method.
& after sampling).The volumes of air samples were corrected for the natural temperature and pressure (25˚C & 1 atm) and then used in calculating the TSP concentrations.In addition, the High Volume Air sampler was calibrated monthlyis the air pollution index of TSP; C is the measured concentration of the TSP; Bp Hi is the breakpoint that is greater than or equal to C; Bp Lo is the breakpoint that is less than or identical to C; I Hi is the sub-index value (I Hi -I Lo ) (Bp Hi -Bp Lo ) (C -Bp Lo ) + I Lo API= API = matching to Bp Hi ; and I Lo is the sub-index value corresponding to Bp Lo .API of particulate matter was calculated and classified into sectors according to Chinese and EPA standard methods as obvious in table-1.(10,16) Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS-16 Package.The data sheet included TSP concentrations, API, and local air direction.The total suspended particulate concentrations and their corresponding air pollution indices were classified according to days, and months.The statistical tests used were Kolmogrov-Smirove and Shapiro-Wilk Tests of normality, One-Way ANOVA Test followed by LSD Post Hoc Multiple Comparisons Test, and Independent Samples-T-Test.The data were expressed as (mean ± standard deviation).

RESULTS
There were records for totally 84 measurement days during the year, which covered seven days per month, for the twelve months in the year.Kolmogrov-Smirove & Shapiro Wilk Tests indicated the normal distribution of the TSP levels and their corresponding air pollution indices (p > 0.05, at 95% C.I.).The 24-hour TSP concentrations exceeded the Egyptian National Standard in the executive law of the Prime Minister decision Number 1095-2011 at the seven weekdays and twelve months during the year.It exceeded the National Standards during 78 measurement days out of 84 (92.9%).Application of air pollution index revealed that 19% of the measurement days were of good air quality, 28.6% % were unhealthy for sensitive groups, 20.2% were harmful to the public, 15.5% were very unhealthful, and 16.7% were hazardous to the public.of TSP and their API were the highest at the South East air direction, and minimum at the North East (table-2).Local air direction showed statistically significant variation in TSP and API (One-Way ANOVA Test).Further analysis using LSD Post Hoc Multiple Comparisons Test revealed that TSP concentrations and API were significantly higher at the SE direction than at each of N, NE, E, S& NW (P <0.05 at 95% C.I.).

Figure- 2 :
Figure-2: Daily Mean total suspended particulate (TSP) concentrations against its maximum daily Egyptian Limits its corresponding air pollution index in one of the heavy traffic streets in Alexandria Egypt (2008-2009).

Figure- 3 :
Figure-3: Monthly Mean total suspended particulate (TSP) concentrations against its maximum daily Egyptian Limits and its corresponding air pollution index in one of the heavy traffic streets in Alexandria Egypt (2008-2009).
polluted air, and unhealthy for sensitive groups with heart or lung problems.This may be attributed to the closure of schools, and most human activities during Saturdays.Thus, sensitive population must reduce their outdoor strenuous physical activities, while the overall population can enjoy their usual outside activities.(24,25) The air quality of the other working days (Sunday to Thursday) ranged from lightly to moderately polluted air.So its effect may range from harmful to very unhealthy to the general population.Hence, the public must be informed to avoid their outdoor strenuous physical activities, and the sensitive groups must use their reliever inhaler more often.(24,25) Traffic concentrations of TSP at the street under study exceeded the Egyptian National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) at the study location and period.Fridays were of the lowest API.Saturdays were slightly contaminated and harmful for sensitive groups.The air quality of the other working days (Sunday to Thursday) ranged from lightly to moderately polluted air.Hence, their effects varied from harmful to very unhealthy to the general population.The API was the lowest during the rainy months (February, January, March, and December).It was the highest during April, May and June (Spring Season).It is recommended to apply and generalize air pollution index in Egypt and to ensure community participation by communicating the API triggering control actions through media to prevent air pollution episodes are recommended.In addition, an air pollution control strategy must be applied to reduce traffic pollution such as using cleaner fuels, enhancing public transportation, and limiting private car licensing.