Evaluation of air pollution in Egyptian rural areas

ABSTRACT

The major objective of this study is to point out the air pollution sources in rural areas and to evaluate the role of the emissions on the air quality in the investigated village [El-Danabik] in Northeast Egypt. The main sources of the air pollution in rural areas are brick kiln, using of biomass fuel and livestock excreta. SO[2], NO[2], CO. CO[2] and smoke were measured in the atmosphere surrounding a brick kiln. The data obtained revealed that the atmosphere of the investigated area is highly polluted with these gases. The mean concentration of SO[2] was 23.804 mg/m[3] and NO[2] concentration ranged between 39.01 to 1.41 mg/m[3]. Smoke was also found in a significantly high concentration. The concentrations ranged between 17.70 mg/m[3] and 70.71 mg/m[3]. The wood and agriculture residue combustion [the main fuels used in rural homes] produce many toxic gases besides fine particulate matter [smoke]. High concentration of CO[2] was recorded in the indoor atmosphere, the average concentration was 33673.5 mg/m[3]. Carbon monoxide [CO], is also produced as a product of incomplete combustion of the organic fuels. The CO concentration ranged between 1544.6 mg/m[3] and 2304.5 mg/m[3] in the indoor air in rural houses. The average concentration of SO[2] was 0.98 mg /m[3] while it was 13.79 mg/m[3] for NO[2]. A livestock excreta is a major source of atmospheric ammonia in rural areas. High concentration of ammonia gas was found in the atmosphere near the cattle and chicken farms. The average concentrations were 1.07 +/- 0.93 mg/m[3], 2.5 9 +/- 2.99 mg/m[3] in the atmosphere near the cattle and chicken farms, respectively. It must be stated that adverse effects are possible on the basis of the concentration of air pollutants in indoor and outdoor air in the rural areas