International Journal of Biosensors & Bioelectronics Research Article Open Access A review of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in greater Cairo, Egypt Abstract Volume 6 Issue 3 - 2020 Greater Cairo is the largest metropolitan area in Egypt, with an estimated population density 2 Atef MF Mohammed, Inas A Saleh of 13107 people/km . The increased population and, thus, rapid urban growth in Greater Air Pollution Research Department, Environmental Research Cairo has created a problem of overcrowded streets filled with cars and trucks which Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt plays a big role in increased air pollution. This review aimed to showing concentrations of PM (PM10, PM2.5) and SO2 in Greater Cairo during last years. Also, showing Sources Correspondence: Atef MF Mohammed, Air Pollution Research of Air Pollutants, efforts of the Government of Egypt to Improve Air Quality, Egyptian Department, Environmental Research Division, National Laws and guidelines, Regulations and Policies. In addition, showing role of the Egyptian Research Centre, Giza, Egypt, Fax +20 2 33370931, Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and national network to monitoring air pollutants. Tel +20 2 33371362; +201151143456, Finally, compare levels monitored in Greater Cairo with other cities at different countries Email around the world. Received: August 13, 2020 | Published: August 31, 2020 Keywords: sulfur dioxide, gaseous pollutants, particulate matter, PM2.5, PM10, Egypt Introduction (2) Combustions of fossil fuels in industrial activities, commercial activities, petroleum refining, chemical production and The main component of atmosphere is ambient air; all humans, residential heaters. plants, living organisms and animals, which depends on it for survival on earth. The major challenges facing Egyptian government (Ministry (3) Emissions from on-road vehicles such as cars, buses, trucks and of State for Environmental Affairs’ priorities) is protecting air from motorcycles. 1 pollution. The ambient air is consisting of a mixture of solid and liquid (4) Emissions from non-road vehicles such as construction and particles and gases, which originate from natural sources while others farm equipment, boats, ships, lawnmowers, snowmobiles, are originate from human activities like: industry and agriculture chainsaws and aircraft.8 activities, domestic activities, thermal power plants and vehicles emissions. Ambient air pollution take place when the air contains Greater Cairo description pollutants in quantities that could cause harm effects on human health, damage plants, animals and materials.2,3 The high rate of urbanization The coordinates of Greater Cairo area are 30◦08_N, 31◦34_E (Figure 1). Greater Cairo is the most highly density region in Egypt with rapid population growth together, increase in mobile vehicls, 5 industrialization and increase fuel consumed in thermal power plants, - Africa with about more than 19 million. Geographically, Greater would increase the levels of ambient air pollutants such as particulate Cairo city is bordered from the east direction by El-Mokattam Hills matter (PM , PM ) and sulphur dioxide (SO ).4 to the Eastern Desert, and from the west by Abu-Rawash Hills and 10 2.5 2 the Western desert. The climate is sunny and dry. Meteorologically, Air pollutants in ambient air of Greater Cairo - Egypt are Greater Cairo is affected by desert weather; the annual precipitation divided into two major categories; particulate matter and gases. Fine range is 1–15mm and the annual temperatures range is 14 – 34°C. particulates Matter (PM2.5) resulted from the fuel burning of vehicles, The most predominant wind direction is from north for 9.8 months power plant, factories and wood burning, while the coarse Particulates and from west for 2.2 months. The average wind speed during Matter with more than 2.5 micrometers in diameters resulted from the winter season is above 9 m/s, which led to reduce the relative wind ablation, volcanic eruptions and movement of vehicles on humidity in amient air of Greater Cairo than during summer season.9 5 unpaved roads. PM and SO2 Particles accumulate in air and reach to These climate conditions enable particulate matter to be suspended respiratory system lead to harmful healthy effect. The inhalation of in the air. If there is no rain and the wind speed is relatively low, these particles resulted in irritation of respiratory system as asthma the pollutants accumulate in higher concentrations. This leads to the case, while the fine particulates not only lead to increase heart and smog phenomena.10 Industry is a major source of pollution in Cairo. In 5 lung diseases. SO2 is the most important ambient air pollutant, due Egypt; 52% of the industries, 40% of thermal power stations and more to it is the most universally distributed and it is associated with acid than 2 million vehicles per day are found in Greater city. Vehicles rains, plant damage, high corrosion rates and general toxic effects. running in Greater Cairo streets are old, 60% of which are over 10 SO2 is the classical ambient air pollutant related with Sulphur content years old. In addition, due to lack of rains and layout of tall buildings in fossil fuels. It is the main inorganic gaseous pollutant in various flue and narrow streets, Greater Cairo has very poor dispersion conditions, and stack gases and industrial waste gases. Anthropogenic sources of which create a bowl effect. Also, it is considered one of the highest 6,7 SO2 emissions are classified as: polluted megacities in the world. Fuels used for vehicle in Greater Cairo are unleaded gasoline, diesel and natural gas.11 Finally, about (1) Combustions of fossil fuels in thermal power plants. Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Int J Biosen Bioelectron. 2020;6(3):56‒68. 56 ©2020 Mohammed et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially. Copyright: A review of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in greater Cairo, Egypt ©2020 Mohammed et al. 57 50 – 55% of Greater Cairo houses of the national industrial activity, nature of the activities (16) stations.5,13,14 In addition, Environmental most of which are public sector. The most of these industrial activities Monitoring Center (EMC) - Ministry of Health and Population have are existed in two main zones: north (Shoubra El Kheima) and south monitoring network distributed all over the different regions of the 12 (Helwan), which very close to the Nile and to thermal power plants. Republic, which consists of 77 monitoring stations for PM (PM10, 13,14 PM2.5) and 74 monitoring stations for SO2. EEAA several attempts National network for ambient air monitoring are accomplished to decrease ambient air pollution in Greater Cairo Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs (EEAA) has started city. One of these attempts is the Cairo Air Improvement Project work in a network to monitor air pollutants at 1998 in the context of (CAIP) with USAID. The Egyptian government was established its responsibility for the protection of the Egyptian environment and national a network for ambient air pollutants in 36 sites in Greater it aims to identify the sources of pollutants, air quality, determine the Cairo. Another attempt is the Egyptian Environmental Policy level of control it and reduce the pollution of the air and recognize the Program (EEPP), which was helped decision makers to laying down 15–17 state of air quality and focus on getting rid of the risk of air pollution environmental management agenda policy in Egypt. In addition, reasons. A national monitoring network consists of 87 monitoring the governorate of Cairo in 2014 was decreased traffic emissions by: stations distributed all over the different regions of the Republic commenced a campaign to remove all street vendors by force from according to the following classification: Industrial areas (19) stations; the streets of the city center, installed new traffic lights, opening of the Residential areas (11) stations; Traffic areas (11) stations; Urban areas Tahrir underground garage, which accommodates 1,700 vehicles and 17,18 (21) stations; Reference zones (9) stations; The areas with overlapping transformed some streets to pedestrian paths such as El Alfy Street. Figure 1 Greater Cairo map.19 25 Literature review fall. Mostafa & Zakey founded that the annual PM2.5 and PM10 levels at 17 sites during 2001 - 2002 were 85 and 170 g/m3, respectively. Greater Cairo is the largest urban area in Egypt. it consisting of Wheida et al.26 reported that the temporal and spatial variability of Cairo governorate, Giza city, 6th of October City, Shubra El-Kheima PM concentrations during 2000-2004 and 2010-2015 at 18 stations 2 19,20 10 and Obour City. Its population density is 13107 people/km . in Greater Cairo. They found that the areas with low pollution levels The rapid urban growth and highly population density has created were El-Abbasseya, Nasr City, and New Cairo, while areas with high overcrowded streets, which contain high density of vehicles. Increase pollution levels were El-Maasra, El-Maadi, El-Kolaly, and Abo- in vehicles density leads to increased ambient air pollution. Moreover, Zabaal. Pollutants are the major factors in disease of humans. PM urban growth leads to increase industrial activities. Because of high and SO2 are penetrate the respiratory system via inhalation, causing density of vehicles