By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Air quality in Accra, Ghana is unhealthy due to harmattan dust from the northeast, household and bush burning activities, emissions from vehicles, says Expert.
Light industrial activities such as automobile spraying and carpentry are also key contributors.
The air quality index as of February 10, 2022, indicates that the quality of air is hazardous, meaning the air is filled with dangerous particles and when inhaled could be harmful to the body, Modern Ghana reports.
It is above 18.7 times above the World Health Organisation annual air quality guideline value.
Mr Emmanuel Appoh, the Head of Environmental Quality Department of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a working visit to the light industrial area of Accra.
He said the level of pollution was unhealthy for children, the elderly and people with underlying conditions like asthma.
The EPA, he said, was taking steps such as public sensitisation and enforcement of best practices to ensure that light industrial activities were done according to standards.
He noted that the chemicals/materials used for sanding and spraying by casket manufacturers and auto sprayers openly released heavy pollutants into the air.
Mr Appoh stated that persons involved in the activities, immediate occupants in the area, and the public were at risk of developing upper respiratory tract infections.
“Ideally these activities should not be done at residential areas due to the pollution levels. Workers are supposed to wear protective clothing, wear industrial nose masks and goggles but this is not the case,” he stated.
He said the EPA was working with other agencies to commence an initiative where air quality would be made known to the public through the media every six hours to guide people and enable them to take steps to protect themselves.
Mr Appoh said a study conducted by the Agency in 2015 estimated that 2,800 lives were lost due to the effects of air pollution.