Project description
Tackling the silent threat of air pollution in Africa
African cities grapple with alarming pollution, yet the research spotlight scarcely illuminates the continent. As some of the world’s most polluted urban centres face a population boom, the lack of data exacerbates the threat to public health. In response, the EU-funded SO-TOX project will launch a pioneering investigation in Luanda, Angola, to uncover the roots, impacts, and solutions of air pollution through cutting-edge techniques and a holistic approach. By bridging exposure and health data, the project aims to guide policies for a healthier Luanda and lay the groundwork for resilient, sustainable African cities. Aligned with the World Health Assembly’s priorities, SO-TOX represents a crucial step toward understanding, combatting, and preventing the silent threat of air pollution in Africa.
Objective
African countries are home to some of the world’s most polluted cities, where bad air quality is the most potent risk factor for mortality. However, they are nearly unrepresented in the research on air pollution levels and health impacts. Without adequate knowledge of air quality and mitigating the sources of pollution, the problem will only get worse given Africa’s expected population boom. This project through a holistic framework involves a strong exposure-health linked dual-component in the profile of PM to understand the current status of air pollution in Luanda (Angola). It aims to answer the following 3 main questions as; What causes air pollution? What are the effects? What are the possible solutions to tackle it?
The project will focus on two different levels, source identification through receptor model techniques, and in-vitro assessment of cytotoxic and genotoxic properties of the PM to link physicochemical characteristics of air pollution to health risks. The first source profiling and toxicological screening of air pollution in Africa (Luanda) will contribute to understanding the causes of poor health and defining regional and national policies aiming at improving wellbeing in Luanda and other African cities with similar problems, making them more resilient and sustainable. This will represent a chance to review/adopt legislation, propose source-oriented cost-effective control strategies, and lay the foundations for a future measurement network. This proposal includes both the transfer of knowledge to the host institution and the training of the candidate in new advanced techniques. The project will have a strong connection with the recent World Health Assembly resolution, which has set actions to address air pollution and its health risks in Africa as a priority
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
3810-193 Aveiro
Portugal