Lagos Ranks 133rd Among World’s Most Polluted Cities — Report

Lagos State has been ranked 133rd in the world’s most pol­luted cities, in a latest survey by IQAir.

Working on what it called historical data from 2017 to 2022, IQAir said the annual average PM2.5 concentration (μg/m³) of the state is “unhealthy”.

“Lagos is experiencing some rather poor-quality air with a US AQI figure of 160, which classified it as ‘unhealthy’ based on the World Health Organisa­tion’s recommended figures from 2021,” it said.

According to the report, La­gos, with an estimated popula­tion of 21 million as of 2018, has the concentration of its PM2.5 pollutant as 73.2 µg/m³.

The report explained that with such a level, “it is rec­ommended that a good qual­ity mask is worn when going outside. Doors and windows should be kept closed so as to prevent the ingress of pollut­ed air in the home. All types of outdoor exercise should be abandoned until air quality improves.”

While ranking Nigeria as the 10th most polluted country in Africa, with an air pollution rate of 44.8 percent, IQAir said an estimated 11,200 premature deaths were recorded in 2018 as a direct result of poor air quali­ty with 60 percent of the fatality children under the age of five.

The report further noted that “any type of air pollution is detrimental to health, but the worst type of pollutant is the microscopic PM2.5 particles, which can easily penetrate the lungs, due to their small size. This study found the levels in Lagos were over 7 times the target figure suggested by the World Health Organisation.”

The report gave a negative prognosis of the situation pointing out that “casualties, as a result of the air pollution crisis in Nigeria, has increased by nearly 40 percent over the last few decades,” without re­ceding.

It said, “Nigeria has some of the highest levels of unhealthy air quality across the African continent. Overall, Nigerian cit­ies contain the most unhealthy air quality with 10 urban areas being classified on a list of 30 cities in Africa with the most unhealthy air quality.”

The report put the causative factors as those from ambient air pollution, which it said “is caused by pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres or PM2.5.

“These are dangerous be­cause they can easily bypass the body’s natural defence sys­tem and enter the bloodstream, contributing to mortality and morbidity.

“While the WHO guideline for the annual mean PM 2.5 concentration level is 10 µg/ m³, Lagos has recorded levels of 68 µg/m³ in the same range as other polluted megacities such as Beijing, Cairo and Mumbai.”

To arrest the alarming de­velopment, the report said, “The introduction of efficient electric energy will decrease the need for generators, which produce unhealthy air in house­holds and work environments.

“Nigeria has access to sus­tainable energy resources that are capable of providing power to its citizens. These methods are safer for the environment and the usage of them decreas­es the use of gasoline-powered generators, thus decreasing pollution.

“In rural areas, Nigerians can reduce air pollution in the household by substituting fuel­wood, coal and charcoal for bio­gas, which is a form of biofuel that is made from the decay of natural waste.

“Biogas will provide sus­tainable options for preparing food and heating the household at the same time eliminating air pollution both inside the household and the outside en­vironment.

“Lagos is making some prog­ress in introducing laws but they still need to be executed. In 2017, standards for sulphur content in fuel were lowered to reduce emissions: from 3,000 parts per million (ppm) to 50 ppm for diesel; and from 1,000 ppm to 150 ppm for gasoline.

“Emissions from industries could be lowered with the use of newer, better technologies such as solar power. The garbage sit­uation needs to be addressed due to the huge amount of rub­bish that is buried, burned or just dumped.

“Teams need to monitor this situation and act accord­ingly when the perpetrators are caught.

“Much of the plastic could be recycled instead of being burnt as it is now.

“Furthermore, daily waste removal from households would also help to properly dis­pose of garbage, which reduces the fragmentation of waste and prevents odours forming that contribute to air pollution