Using Inverse Distance Weighting to Determine Spatial Distributions of Airborne Chemical Elements. Case Study: Douala, Cameroon
Air pollution due to heavy metals has become a major problem in urban centers worldwide. Tree barks provide measurements of particulate concentration with an indication of the associated chemical composition. Assessing the air quality in a region is of paramount importance in ensuring the proper con...
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| Language: | English |
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Croatian Forest Research Institute
2024-01-01
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| Series: | South-East European Forestry |
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| Online Access: | https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/472776 |
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| author | Joseph Magloire Fossokeng Mouafo Claudiu Tănăselia André Nana Yakam Jules Richard Priso Mohammed Ketata Alexandru-Ionut Petrisor |
| author_facet | Joseph Magloire Fossokeng Mouafo Claudiu Tănăselia André Nana Yakam Jules Richard Priso Mohammed Ketata Alexandru-Ionut Petrisor |
| author_sort | Joseph Magloire Fossokeng Mouafo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Air pollution due to heavy metals has become a major problem in urban centers worldwide. Tree barks provide measurements of particulate concentration with an indication of the associated chemical composition. Assessing the air quality in a region is of paramount importance in ensuring the proper concentrations of particles in the environment, and their spatial location and distribution. Spatial modelling is a fundamental element in the tool chain for managing ambient air quality in a region. This study uses inverse distance weighting in the analysis of chemical elements from the barks of 254 trees to map heavy metals in the air of the city of Douala, Cameroon during the dry seasons (December to February, when monthly rainfall is low) of 2022. The ANCOVA model was used to compare metal concentrations in the bark with the dendrometric parameters of trees. The results may help in monitoring the spread of heavy metals in the city of Douala, in order to pinpoint the sites at risk. Our findings show that the whole city is in a state of emergency with respect to air quality, and mitigation measures must be taken rapidly throughout its territory, especially in intersections with high traffic volumes and industrial zones. We suggest planting several tall trees with large crown volumes and thick bark to reduce air pollution. Phenology and foliage appearance in trees can provide information on the type of metal-related pollution. These findings bring additional evidence that trees can act as bio-indicators and bio-accumulators in urban environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd0cf642887043beb921bba444df8bf7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1847-6481 1849-0891 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Croatian Forest Research Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South-East European Forestry |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd0cf642887043beb921bba444df8bf72025-01-20T21:27:43ZengCroatian Forest Research InstituteSouth-East European Forestry1847-64811849-08912024-01-0115217518610.15177/seefor.24-19Using Inverse Distance Weighting to Determine Spatial Distributions of Airborne Chemical Elements. Case Study: Douala, CameroonJoseph Magloire Fossokeng Mouafo0Claudiu Tănăselia1André Nana Yakam2Jules Richard Priso3Mohammed Ketata4Alexandru-Ionut Petrisor5University of Douala, Faculty of Science, Department of Plant Biology, B.P. 812 Douala, CameroonResearch Institute for Analytical Instrumentation INCDO INOE 2000, 67 Donath, RO-400293 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaUniversity of Douala, Faculty of Economics and Applied Management, Laboratory of Mathematics and Computer Science, Douala, CameroonUniversity of Douala, Faculty of Science, Department of Plant Biology, B.P. 812 Douala, CameroonLEMI, Electronics, Micro technology and Instrumentation Laboratory IUT-LEMI, FR-76821 Mont Saint Aignan, FranceIon Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism, Doctoral School of Urban Planning, RO-10014 Bucharest, RomaniaAir pollution due to heavy metals has become a major problem in urban centers worldwide. Tree barks provide measurements of particulate concentration with an indication of the associated chemical composition. Assessing the air quality in a region is of paramount importance in ensuring the proper concentrations of particles in the environment, and their spatial location and distribution. Spatial modelling is a fundamental element in the tool chain for managing ambient air quality in a region. This study uses inverse distance weighting in the analysis of chemical elements from the barks of 254 trees to map heavy metals in the air of the city of Douala, Cameroon during the dry seasons (December to February, when monthly rainfall is low) of 2022. The ANCOVA model was used to compare metal concentrations in the bark with the dendrometric parameters of trees. The results may help in monitoring the spread of heavy metals in the city of Douala, in order to pinpoint the sites at risk. Our findings show that the whole city is in a state of emergency with respect to air quality, and mitigation measures must be taken rapidly throughout its territory, especially in intersections with high traffic volumes and industrial zones. We suggest planting several tall trees with large crown volumes and thick bark to reduce air pollution. Phenology and foliage appearance in trees can provide information on the type of metal-related pollution. These findings bring additional evidence that trees can act as bio-indicators and bio-accumulators in urban environments.https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/472776air pollutionchemical elementsspatial modellingdendrometric parametersbio-indicators |
| spellingShingle | Joseph Magloire Fossokeng Mouafo Claudiu Tănăselia André Nana Yakam Jules Richard Priso Mohammed Ketata Alexandru-Ionut Petrisor Using Inverse Distance Weighting to Determine Spatial Distributions of Airborne Chemical Elements. Case Study: Douala, Cameroon South-East European Forestry air pollution chemical elements spatial modelling dendrometric parameters bio-indicators |
| title | Using Inverse Distance Weighting to Determine Spatial Distributions of Airborne Chemical Elements. Case Study: Douala, Cameroon |
| title_full | Using Inverse Distance Weighting to Determine Spatial Distributions of Airborne Chemical Elements. Case Study: Douala, Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Using Inverse Distance Weighting to Determine Spatial Distributions of Airborne Chemical Elements. Case Study: Douala, Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using Inverse Distance Weighting to Determine Spatial Distributions of Airborne Chemical Elements. Case Study: Douala, Cameroon |
| title_short | Using Inverse Distance Weighting to Determine Spatial Distributions of Airborne Chemical Elements. Case Study: Douala, Cameroon |
| title_sort | using inverse distance weighting to determine spatial distributions of airborne chemical elements case study douala cameroon |
| topic | air pollution chemical elements spatial modelling dendrometric parameters bio-indicators |
| url | https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/472776 |
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