• RS EAS 750: 2010 : Air quality — Emissions to the air by cement factories — Guidelines 
• RS EAS 751: 2010 : Air quality — Specification 
• RS EAS 752: 2010 : Air quality — Tolerance limits of emission discharged to the air by factories.
• RS ISO 4221: 1980: Air quality — Determination of mass concentration sulphur dioxide in ambient air — Thorin spectrophotometric method

There are a set of actions – both collective and individual, that can help improve the quality of air we breathe. 

• Use less biomass (charcoal, firewood) and avoid open burning
• Use less polluting domestic stoves; opt for alternative fuels such as gas or electricity;
• When purchasing a new car, consider one that is the most efficient, lowest-polluting vehicle or even a zero-emission electric car. 
• Instead of driving, walk or ride a bicycle whenever possible
• Consider using public transport rather than individual cars
• When driving, accelerate gradually and obey the speed limit. Drive less, particularly on days with unhealthy air quality levels or in hours of potential heavy traffic;.
• Regularly maintain your vehicle and keep the tires properly inflated.
• Turn off the lights when you leave your room or office. Also turn off office equipment, computers, printers and fax machine, before leaving office
• Replace energy-hungry incandescent lights with compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Limit the use of air conditioners both at work and at home and opt for natural ventilation

Anyone can be affected by air pollution; however, the following are the most vulnerable groups:

• Children
• Elderly
• Pregnant mothers
• People who have already chronic diseases (Lung, heart etc)

1. Particulate Matter (PM): Mixture of very small particles and liquid droplets.

#Much smaller in size/diameter (Micrometer (μm)) are much more harmful to human health. Example: PM 2.5:<2.5x10-6 m or <2.5μm 

From: Industry, vehicles exhausts, dust storms and burning things

2. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas:

From: Industry, vehicles exhausts, gas stoves, power plants

3. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas: #Burning Sulfur containing fuels

From: Industry, power plants and refineries

4. Carbon monoxide (CO) gas: # Incomplete burning of Carbon)

From: Industry, Vehicle exhausts, incinerators, burning things.

5. Ozone (O3) gas at the ground level: O3 in the stratosphere (~15Km high) protects us against harmful solar radiations (UV). However, at the ground level is a pollutant gas.

From: O3 is not directly emitted in air; it is produced from chemical reactions between other chemical compounds.

Mostly: NOx + VOCs + Light → O3

A study commissioned by REMA and completed in December 2017 concluded that there is no single sector that is the biggest contributor to air pollution in Rwanda. However, the study concluded, in locations adjacent to busy roads, particularly in urban areas, vehicle emissions are the biggest contributor to poor air quality whereas domestic biomass cookstoves (wood and charcoal) are the primary contributors to poor air quality in residential areas.

Main Sources of Air Pollution:

1. Human activities (Anthropogenic)

• Industrial emissions
• Moto vehicles exhausts
• Cooking using woods and charcoals
• Burning charcoals
• Burning all kind of trashes

2. Natural (Biogenic)

• Dust storms from desert, no cemented roads
• Indirect emissions from chemical reactions bushfires and bush pollen 
• Volcanic eruptions

The low respiratory infections such as Asthma, heart diseases, Stroke, pulmonary diseases, tuberculosis all are ranked among the top 10 cause of deaths especially in low income and middle income countries (WHO, 2016).

Direct effects (Minor): Irritation of eyes, nose and throat etc. 

Indirect effects (Severe): Chronic diseases (Tuberculosis, Bronchitis and Asthma) which lead to Lung and heart cancer then to death (~4 million deaths/Year worldwide, WHO report, 2012)

In Rwanda (MINISANTE, 2013): 

1. 2,227 deaths were attributed to air pollution effects
2. 22% of all deaths were less than 5years old (Premature deaths. 
3. 21.7% of all patients visited hospitals had respiratory infections

1. Environmental Effects 

Direct Effects: Visibility reduction, acid rain which pollutes water, etc. 

Indirect effects: Damage of vegetation (Grasses, forests, crops), kills water livings and causes corrosion to metal materials.

2. Economic impact of air pollution:

1. Low labor productivity
2. High health cost
3. Low agricultural crop productivity