Muluneh Getachew Garedew, PhD student at the Medical Faculty, Lund University, and Assistant Professor at Jimma University, Ethiopia, will give a presentation on his work about “Levels of PM2.5 and its health impacts in Jimma City, Ethiopia: Using low-cost sensors and WHO AirQ+ Software”.

Air pollution causes approximately 7.9 million global premature deaths annually, over 90% in low- and middle-income countries, including over 88,000 in Ethiopia. However, sparse air monitoring and limited health-risk evidence impede effective air quality management in Ethiopia's growing cities. The aim of this study was to assess ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration across different land use types and quantify associated public health impacts in Jimma City, Ethiopia.

Purple Air monitoring devices were used to measure ambient PM2.5 concentrations, and the long-term health impacts of PM_2.5 exposure on the population of Jimma City were quantified using AirQ+ software.

In Jimma City, the mean PM_2.5 concentration was 55.4 µg/m³. This PM_2.5 level accounted for an estimated 32.15% of premature adult deaths and 25.25% of childhood lower respiratory infection fatalities. Across lowest and highest concentration scenarios, non-accidental adult mortality burden ranged from 24.30% to 35.88%. Developing strategies and taking clean air actions reduces preventable mortality and improves public health benefits.

Fika will be served at 11.00.

Most welcome!