Respiratory health among adolescents living in the Highveld Air Pollution Priority Area in South Africa

The impact of environmental conditions on non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review of epidemiologic evidence

Background

The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is increasing. Environmental conditions such as heavy metals and air pollution have been linked with the incidence and mortality of chronic diseases such as cancer, as well as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. We aimed to scope the current state of evidence on the impact of environmental conditions on NCDs in SSA.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review to identify environmental conditions linked with NCDs in SSA by identifying studies published from January 1986 through February 2023. We searched African Index Medicus, Ovid Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Greenfile. Using the PICOS study selection criteria, we identified studies conducted in SSA focussed on physical environmental exposures and incidence, prevalence, and mortality of NCDs. We included only epidemiologic or quantitative studies.

Results

We identified 6754 articles from electronic database searches; only 36 met our inclusion criteria and were qualitatively synthesised. Two studies were conducted in multiple SSA countries, while 34 were conducted across ten countries in SSA. Air pollution (58.3%) was the most common type of environmental exposure reported, followed by exposure to dust (19.4%), meteorological variables (13.8%), heavy metals (2.7%), soil radioactivity (2.7%), and neighbourhood greenness (2.7%). The examined NCDs included respiratory diseases (69.4%), cancer (2.7%), stroke (5.5%), diabetes (2.7%), and two or more chronic diseases (19.4%). The study results suggest an association between environmental exposures and NCDs, particularly for respiratory diseases. Only seven studies found a null association between environmental conditions and chronic diseases.

Conclusions

There is a growing body of research on environmental conditions and chronic diseases in the SSA region. Although some cities in SSA have started implementing environmental monitoring and control measures, there remain high levels of environmental pollution. Investment can focus on improving environmental control measures and disease surveillance.

Understanding the connections between climate change, air pollution, and human health in Africa: Insights from a literature review

Climate change and air pollution are two interconnected global challenges that have profound impacts on human health. In Africa, a continent known for its rich biodiversity and diverse ecosystems, the adverse effects of climate change and air pollution are particularly concerning. This review study examines the implications of air pollution and climate change for human health and well-being in Africa. It explores the intersection of these two factors and their impact on various health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders, mental health, and vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. The study highlights the disproportionate effects of air pollution on vulnerable groups and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions and policies to protect their health. Furthermore, it discusses the role of climate change in exacerbating air pollution and the potential long-term consequences for public health in Africa. The review also addresses the importance of considering temperature and precipitation changes as modifiers of the health effects of air pollution. By synthesizing existing research, this study aims to shed light on complex relationships and highlight the key findings, knowledge gaps, and potential solutions for mitigating the impacts of climate change and air pollution on human health in the region. The insights gained from this review can inform evidence-based policies and interventions to mitigate the adverse effects on human health and promote sustainable development in Africa.

A meta-analysis of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide air quality monitoring associated with the burden of disease in sub-Saharan Africa

Exposure to air pollution is a fundamental obstacle that makes it complex to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3) for good health and wellbeing. It is for this reason that air pollution has been characterized as the global environmental health risk facing the current generation. The risks of air pollution on morbidity, and life expectancy are well documented. This feeds directly to the substantial body of the literature that exists regarding the burden of diseases associated with ambient air pollution. However, the bulk of this literature originates from developed countries. Whilst most of the sub-Saharan African studies extrapolate literature from developed countries to contextualize the risks of elevated air pollution exposure levels associated with the burden of disease. However, extrapolation of epidemiological evidence from developed countries is problematic given that it disregards the social vulnerability. Therefore, given this observation, it is ideal to evaluate if the monitoring executions of hazardous particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide do take into consideration the concerted necessary efforts to associate monitored air pollution exposure levels with the burden of disease. Therefore, based on this background, the current meta-analysis evaluated air quality monitoring associated with the burden of disease across sub-Saharan Africa. To this extent, the current meta-analysis strictly included peer-reviewed published journal articles from the sub-Saharan African regions to gain insight on air quality monitoring associated with the burden of disease. The collected meta-analysis data was captured and subsequently analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2019. This program facilitated the presentation of the meta-analysis data in the form of graphs and numerical techniques. Generally, the results indicate that the sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by a substantial gap in the number of regional studies that evaluate the burden of disease in relation with exposure to air quality.Implications: The work presented here is an original contribution and provides a comprehensive yet succinct overview of the monitoring associated with the burden of disease in sub-Saharan Africa. The author explores if the monitoring executions of hazardous particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide do take into considerations the concerted necessary efforts to associate monitored air pollution exposure levels with the burden of disease. The manuscript includes the most relevant and current literature in a field of study that has not received a deserving degree of research attention in recent years. This is especially true in sub-Saharan Africa, characterized by insufficient monitoring of air quality exposure concentrations.