1. Ranking of cities by estimated PM10 levels

2. Estimated urban PM10
levels in African cities

Objective
Estimation of ambient air pollution levels in cities that do not have monitored data.

Methodology
The project developed econometric estimates of air pollution levels using a sample of cities for which a time series of monitoring data is available. Predictors include country-level indicators such as economic wealth and fuel mix as well as city-level data on population size and physical attributes. The latter were generated using GIS data and techniques and include climatic, land use and topography variables.

Results
The project produced ambient air pollution estimates for approximately 3000 cities— all cities with population above 100,000 in 2000. These estimates were then used to estimate disability adjusted life years lost due to air pollution for the WHO Global Burden of Disease study.

Links
This project is a joint effort between the Environment Department and the Development Research Group's Infrastructure and Environment Team.

• Urban outdoor particulate air pollution (presentation)