Evidence to support clean-energy transition and related health co-benefits

Abstract

TPS 641: Policies, interventions, communication, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 28, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background: Air quality in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) can be comparable to more developed countries due to emissions from energy production and use. Although much potential exists for clean energy, many PIC communities and households rely on fossil/ solid-fuel combustion for domestic energy needs (e.g. cooking, lighting), which may contribute to air pollution problems. Methods: To augment the evidence on the link between energy, air quality and health in the PICs, a low-cost air-quality monitoring network is being piloted in Suva, Fiji (2017 population: ~95,000). The monitors (‘KOALAs’: Knowing Our Ambient, Local Air quality) measure combustion-related emissions: particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) at 5-minute intervals. The network, overseen remotely by a data management centre, consists of multiple monitors to spatiotemporally resolve regional air quality information across suspected low (background) and high (urban) emission sites. Results: Several months of data have so-far been collected in Suva, giving tens of thousands of air-quality observations (approximately 9,000/month/KOALA). Mean [SD] 24-hour values of PM2.5 and CO at background and urban sites are 5.0 [3.6] µg/m3 and 0.13 [0.08] ppm, and 6.4 [3.5] µg/m3 and 0.09 [0.03] ppm, respectively. Welch two-sample t-tests indicate that 24-hour means are significantly different between sites for both PM2.5 (p-value=0.003) and CO (p-value=0.008). Background site five-minute-interval measurements of PM2.5 and CO are weakly correlated (r2=0.44). Equivalent urban site measurements are more weakly correlated (r2=0.28). Real-time measurements are found online: http://fiji.sensors.net.au/. Conclusions: Urban PM2.5 24-hour values from low-cost monitors in Suva, the capital city of Fiji and one of the most populous PIC regions, are below the WHO air quality 24-hour guideline values of 25 µg/m3. Low correlations between PM2.5 and CO suggests different emission sources at background and urban sites. Future monitoring using the KOALAs will profile population and personal exposures, and support regional clean-energy interventions.