Tens of Millions face Unhealthy to Hazardous Air Quality in West Africa and Cabo Verde in the coming days

A series of high-pressure systems moved from the Atlantic across North Africa, and the Sahara Desert started last Sunday. The movement of high pressure has increased surface winds, leading to sand blasting and dust lifting. PM10 and PM2.5 Dust concentrations exceeded unhealthy levels in Cabo Verde with PM10 reaching 500 micrograms/m3 and 50 PM2.5 micrograms/m3 on early Sunday Morning. Later in the afternoon, the PM10 values continued to rise with values exceeding 800 micrograms/m3

On Monday, as the dust continued to move from the desert, Dakar Senegal reported PM10 concentrations exceeding 1000 micrograms/m3, and PM2.5 concentrations exceeded 300 micrograms/m3.

In the last few hours, the PM10 has exceeded 1500micrograms/m3, and PM2.5 250!!! Both of these levels are considered hazardous, and anyone with respiratory or cardiovascular issues is at heightened risk. These levels suggest that people must stay indoors until dust levels come down.

Future Dust (This week)

The area of high pressure has moved eastward and is not exciting dust over the Bodele Depression — the largest dust emission source in the world.

The dust from Bodele will move across the entire Guinea region over the next few days. This includes Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast.

WRF Modeled forecast of PM10 from February 16 through February 26.

There does not appear to be much relief for West Africa from high dust concentrations over the next week. The WRF movie of PM10 concentrations depicts little relief for most of West Africa in the coming days.

Serious Health Concerns to Vulnerable Populations

Because PM10 and PM2.5 are expected to remain at unhealthy to hazardous levels, there is an increased risk for lower and upper respiratory health impacts.

1. First, limit your time outdoors until these dust events pass.
2. If you know people who have asthma or other cardiovascular disease please check in on them.
3. If you have air conditioning and can close your windows, please do so. The nighttime PM values will be high because particulate matter is trapped at night.
4. Watch out for the kids and the elderly during these events.
5. If you feel like someone is going into acute respiratory stress, please take them to the emergency room.
6. Pay attention to your local news and ministry of Environment.