Jammu, April 8 -- Rising urbanization across the African continent has led to worsening air quality issues in many major cities. However, local efforts are underway to better understand air pollution levels and advocate for cleaner practices.

As towns and cities on the continent continue expanding rapidly, vehicle and industrial emissions have contributed to concerning levels of particulate matter in the air of locations like Yaounde, Cameroon and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Fine dust known as PM2.5 poses serious risks to residents' health, potentially leading to deadly cardiovascular or respiratory diseases over time.

While comprehensive air monitoring systems are still lacking in many African nations, innovative technologi...