CONCENTRATION OF FINE PARTICULATE MATTER (PM\(_{2.5}\)) AND BLACK CARBON (BC) IN AEROSOL SAMPLES IN AL-ZUBAIRY AREA IN SANA’A, YEMEN

Abstract

This research aims to study the air pollution due to fine Particulate Matter of radius less than 2.5µm (PM_2.5) and Black Carbon concentration (BC) in air samples. Aerosol PM_2.5 samples were collected from the rooftop of the National Oncology Center site in Al-Zubairy area in Sana’a Yemen. A Microprocessor Controlled Aerosol Sampling device ISAP1050e (Gerhard Schulze Automation Engineering, Germany company) was used to collect samples. The mass concentration of PM_2.5 of collected samples ranged from 14.27 to 159.09 µg/m³ with an average of 32.66µg/m³. The PM_2.5 results were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) 2005 guideline of PM_2.5 concentration in air. Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between PM_2.5 concentrations and temperature for both fall and summer samples. However, analysis showed a positive correlation between PM_2.5 concentrations and relative humidity for fall samples and a negative correlation for summer samples. The black carbon (BC) concentrations in PM_2.5 samples were measured using a Smoke Stain Reflectometer (SSR) device. The BC concentration ranged from 1.84 to 3.90 µg/m³ with an average of 2.90 µg/m³. The BC results were compared with some international reported results. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of 78.95% of PM_2.5 concentrations was higher than the standard limit (AQI < 100) developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).