Low-Cost Investigation into Sources of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Daniel M. Westervelt, Paulson Kasereka Isevulambire, Rodriguez Yombo Phaka, Laura Hyesung Yang, Garima Raheja, George P. Milly, Jean-Luc Balogije Selenge, Jean Pierre Mfuamba Mulumba, Dimitrios Bousiotis, Buenimio Lomami Djibi, V. Faye McNeill, N. L. Ng, Francis D. Pope, Guillaume Kiyombo Mbela, Konde Nkiama Numbi Joël
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Despite having a population of 16.3 million, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has had little attention toward air quality monitoring. We deployed a MetOne Beta Attenuation Monitor (BAM-1020) for reference PM 2.5 and a QuantAQ Modulair, the latter of which includes measurements of gas-phase NO 2, O 3, CO, and CO 2, in addition to PM 1, PM 2.5, and PM 10 . Here we present the first results from this aggregated, multisensor, multispecies network in DRC. We first compare the Modulair against the BAM-1020, finding an r 2 of 0.76 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 6.97 μg m –3 (hourly data). We develop a correction factor using multiple linear regression, improving MAE to 5.54 μg m –3 . We leverage gaseous pollutant concentrations, particle size distribution data, and anemometer data to draw conclusions about the sources of PM 2.5 in Kinshasa. We link factors resolved from a non-negative matrix factorization method using the gaseous and particle bin concentrations to source profiles. We find a 3-factor solution that points to a CO-dominated, supermicron particle source indicative of secondary particles from local combustion, along with a submicron particle-dominated source indicative of primary particles from combustion and a regional biomass burning source. Our results highlight the need for the implementation of clean air solutions in the DRC.