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, CO 2 , NO 2 , and SO 2 ) 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, CO 2 , NO 2 , SO 2 ), all above the standards recommended by the WHO. The results obtained during this study made it possible to categorise Brazzaville as a polluted city.