Analysis of PM2.5, PM10, and Total Suspended Particle Exposure in the Tema Metropolitan Area of Ghana

Dust levels around the Tema industrial area of the Greater Accra Region have seen no reduction in recent years. Even though at some periods in time a natural drop in dust pollution levels is assured, the overall variation characteristics of the concentration of PM2.5, PM10, and Total Suspended Particles (TSP) have not been studied in recent years. This paper examines the levels of dust pollution across four (4) locations within the Tema metropolitan area with a specific interest in selecting locations and periods (weeks) significantly affected by dust pollution within the study area. Data collection was done over a nine-month period using the Casella 712 Microdust Pro Kit equipment. Measurements were done day and night at sampling points about 100 m apart in a given location. Monitoring was conducted once a week during the day and at night with a sampling period of 24 h per location, for thirty-six weeks. The generalized linear models were explored in selecting locations and weeks significantly affected by dust pollution. The study results showed no significant difference between pollution levels across the four selected locations. Eight, eleven, and five weeks out of the 36 weeks recorded significantly high concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and TSP respectively. In addition, two out of the selected four areas (the oil jetty area and the VALCO hospital area) were found to have significantly high concentrations of dust pollution. The study recommends that an urgent air quality control policy intervention be put in place to control the highly alarming levels of dust pollution concentrations to guarantee and protect human health within the study area and beyond.

Automated summary

The study examined dust pollution levels at four locations in the Tema metropolitan area over a nine-month period, finding no significant difference in pollution levels across locations. Out of 36 weeks of monitoring, significantly high concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and TSP were recorded for 8, 11, and 5 weeks respectively, with the oil jetty area and the VALCO hospital area showing significantly high concentrations of dust pollution. The study recommends urgent air quality control policy intervention to address the alarming levels of dust pollution concentrations.