STATE OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION IN WEST AFRICA: HEALTH IMPACT

Abstract

Currently, the issue of environmental pollution is becoming a growing concern in terms of both health risks and obstacles to development particularly in developing countries such as those in the West African region. This study contributes to the strengthening of existing databases on air pollution in West Africa. The study method consisted of selecting articles from the following databases: “Pub Med”, “SPORT-Discus”, “Scopus” and “Google Scholar”. The keywords “air pollution”, “West Africa”, “health effects on earth”, “demography in Africa”, “socio-economic status”, and “origin of pollution” were used to search for articles in these databases. The results observed at the end of this research made it possible to increase the state of knowledge relative to the demographic and socio- economic contexts of West Africa before describing the characteristics of the different atmospheric

layers

such as the troposphere, the tropopause and the stratosphere. The various atmospheric

pollutants contained in these layers and their recognized effects on health were discussed. From this synthesis of scientific studies on air pollution in West Africa, we found that there are major health concerns such as early aging, progressive regression of the central and peripheral nervous system, depression of lung function and weakened immune defenses. Reducing the exposure of air pollution, improving air quality and setting up air quality monitoring and ambient air standards is essential in West Africa.