Air quality information is scarce in low‐ and middle‐income countries. This study describes the application of moderate cost approaches that can provide spatial and temporal information on concentrations of particulate matter (PM) needed to assess community and occupational exposures. We evaluated PM levels at the Agbogbloshie e‐waste and scrap yard site in Accra, Ghana, and at upwind and downwind locations, obtaining both optical and gravimetric measurements, local meteorological data and satellite aerosol optical depth. Due to overload issues, the gravimetric 24‐hr samplers were modified for periodic sampling and some optical data were screened for quality assurance. Exceptionally high concentrations (e.g., 1‐hr average PM₁₀ exceeding 2000 μg/m³) were sometimes encountered near combustion sources, including open fires at the e‐waste site and spoil piles. 24‐hr PM_2.5 levels averaged 31, 88 and 57 μg/m³ at upwind, e‐waste and downwind sites, respectively, and PM₁₀ averaged 145, 214 and 190 μg/m³, considerably exceeding air quality standards. Upwind levels likely reflected biomass burning that is prevalent in the surrounding informal settlements; levels at the e‐waste and downwind sites also reflected contributions from biomass combustion and traffic. The highest PM levels occurred in evenings, influenced by diurnal changes in emission rates, atmospheric dispersion and wind direction shifts. We demonstrate that moderate cost instrumentation, with some modifications, appropriate data cleaning protocols, and attention to understanding local sources and background levels, can be used to characterize spatial and temporal variation in PM levels in urban and industrial areas.

中文翻译：

---

使用灵活、成本适中且有质量保证的测量方法对加纳电子垃圾场的空气质量影响。


低收入和中等收入国家的空气质量信息稀缺。本研究描述了中等成本方法的应用，该方法可以提供评估社区和职业暴露所需的颗粒物 (PM) 浓度的空间和时间信息。我们评估了加纳阿克拉 Agbogbloshie 电子废物和废料场以及上风和顺风位置的 PM 水平，获得了光学和重力测量、当地气象数据和卫星气溶胶光学深度。由于过载问题，对 24 小时重力采样器进行了修改，以进行定期采样，并筛选了一些光学数据以保证质量。有时在燃烧源附近会遇到异常高的浓度（例如，1 小时平均 PM ₁₀超过 2000 μg/m ³ ），包括电子废物场和弃土堆的明火。上风处、电子垃圾场和下风处24小时PM _2.5平均水平分别为31、88和57 μg/m ³ ，PM ₁₀平均水平为145、214和190 μg/m ³ ，大大超出空气质量标准。逆风水平可能反映了周围非正规住区普遍存在的生物质燃烧；电子废物和顺风地点的水平也反映了生物质燃烧和交通的贡献。 PM 浓度最高出现在晚上，受到排放率日变化、大气扩散和风向变化的影响。我们证明，适度的成本仪器，经过一些修改、适当的数据清理协议以及对了解当地来源和背景水平的关注，可用于表征城市和工业地区 PM 水平的空间和时间变化。