Soot spikes from traffic and holiday bonfires emerge in Addis Ababa air record
An air pollution monitoring network has provided one of the most detailed long-term views yet of the role of black carbon, or soot produced by fires, diesel vehicles and other combustion sources, in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. The detailed measurements show how pollution changes by time of day and season, including increases associated with rush-hour traffic and holiday celebrations. The…
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, experienced record high levels of soot and pollution between 2022 and 2025, according to a new study. The research, published in the journal ACS ES&T Air, analyzed data from 10 air-quality monitoring sites operated by NASA's Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) project. The study reveals how pollution fluctuates by time of day and season, with particularly high levels of black carbon—soot produced by fires and diesel vehicles—linked to rush-hour traffic and holiday celebrations involving bonfires.
Researchers emphasized that this long-term, multisite study of continuous PM2.5 and black carbon measurements in Ethiopia is unprecedented, providing valuable baseline data for understanding pollution trends in rapidly growing cities worldwide. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved air quality management, especially in cities like Addis Ababa where emissions from various sources, including traditional charcoal burning and bonfires during festivities, contribute significantly to the problem.
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