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Imane S, Oumaima B, Kenza K, Laila I, Youssef EM, Zineb S, Mohamed EJ. A Review on Climate, Air Pollution, and Health in North Africa. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:276-298. [PMID: 35352307 PMCID: PMC8964241 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00350-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim of this review is to summarize and provide clear insights into studies that evaluate the interaction between air pollution, climate, and health in North Africa. RECENT FINDINGS Few studies have estimated the effects of climate and air pollution on health in North Africa. Most of the studies highlighted the evidence of the link between climate and air pollution as driving factors and increased mortality and morbidity as health outcomes. Each North African country prioritized research on a specific health factor. It was observed that the health outcome from each driving factor depends on the studied area and data availability. The latter is a major challenge in the region. As such, more studies should be led in the future to cover more areas in North Africa and when more data are available. Data availability will help to explore the applicability of different tools and techniques new to the region. This review explores studies related to climate and air pollution, and their possible impacts on health in North Africa. On one hand, air quality studies have focused mainly on particulate matter exceedance levels and their long-term exposure impacts, namely, morbidity and mortality. The observed differences between the various studies are mainly due to the used exposure-response function, the studied population, background emissions, and natural emission from the Sahara Desert that characterize the region. On the other hand, climate studies have focused primarily on the impact of heat waves, vector-borne disease, and mental disorders. More than half of these studies have been on leishmaniasis disease. The review revealed unbalanced and insufficient research on health impacts from air pollution episodes and climate extremes across the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sekmoudi Imane
- Process and Environment Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Mohammedia. Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Bouakline Oumaima
- SETIME Laboratory, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, B.P 133, Kenitra, 14000 Morocco
| | - Khomsi Kenza
- General Directorate of Meteorology, Casablanca, Morocco
- Laboratory of Chemistry-Biochemistry, Environment, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Ain Chock, Casablanca, P.O. Box 5696, Morocco
| | - Idrissi Laila
- Process and Environment Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Mohammedia. Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - El merabet Youssef
- SETIME Laboratory, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, B.P 133, Kenitra, 14000 Morocco
| | - Souhaili Zineb
- Laboratory of Chemistry-Biochemistry, Environment, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Ain Chock, Casablanca, P.O. Box 5696, Morocco
| | - El jarmouni Mohamed
- National School of Applied Sciences, Water and Environmental Engineering Team, Applied Sciences Laboratory, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, B.P03, Ajdir, Al-Hoceima, Morocco
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