Cotonou’s next breath: Particulate matter monitoring and capturing

Abstract

Air pollution due to high concentrations of small particles is a severe issue in West Africa. In this regard, the international scientific team of the DACCIWA project (Dynamics-Aerosol- Chemistry-Cloud-Interactions In West Africa) recently published the policy relevant find- ings of this action and clearly claimed the need for long-term and reliable measurements of meteorological data and particulate matter concentrations in South West Africa. This short communication describes the progress achieved in the frame of Beninese-German scientific mission. An experimental setup for the long-term and continuous monitoring of meteorological data and particulate matter pollution was developed and installed in Cotonou (Benin). In addition, two pilot scale particle separators (each 2 m ×2 m) was de- veloped, constructed and taken in to operation. The measured particulate matter concen- trations clearly exceed the limits set by the World Health Organization and the European Union. ©