Assessment of Air Quality in Brazzaville: Measurement of Some Automobile Pollutants

Abstract

Atmospheric pollution is currently a real public health problem because of its potentially harmful effects on the environment as well as on human health. Several studies conducted in America, Europe, Asia, and Africa have established a significant link between air pollution and cancer, infertility, cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity, and mortality. This study aims to measure some automotive pollutants (CO, CO2, NO2, and SO2) by a selective and colorimetric method using a measurement system on Dräger reagent tubes coupled to a Dräger Accuro sampling pump in order to do a quantitative assessment of air quality in the nine districts of Brazzaville. The results obtained during this study revealed high concentration levels of pollutants (CO, CO2, NO2, SO2), all above the standards recommended by the WHO. The results obtained during this study made it possible to categorise Brazzaville as a polluted city.