Table 1 Comparison of annual mean and standard deviation (mean ± SD) of PM2.5, NO2, and O3 concentrations between dry and wet seasons and during heatwave and non-heatwave days from 2021–2024.

From: Heatwaves amplify air pollution risks in Sub-Saharan Africa

Pollutants

Dry season [n = 71996]

Wet season [n = 58707]

*p-value

PM2.5 [µg/m3]

37.7 ± 21.2

47.0 ± 23.2

< 0.001

NO2 [µg/m3]

21.3 ± 6.8

20.2 ± 6.5

< 0.001

O3 [PPB]

21.7 ± 15.3

22.5 ± 10.5

< 0.001

Temp [°C]

20.6 ± 3.9

20.8 ± 3.9

< 0.001

RH [%]

66.0 ± 12.4

58.1 ± 13.8

< 0.001

Pollutants

Non-heatwave [n = 20912]

Heatwave [n = 690]

*p-value

PM2.5 [µg/m3]

41.4 ± 16.2

43.1 ± 13.9

< 0.001

NO2 [µg/m3]

15.1 ± 4.1

16.6 ± 5.2

< 0.001

O3 [PPB]

21.5 ± 7.9

24.8 ± 8.3

< 0.001

  1. *The p-value indicates the presence of statistically differences among air pollutant concentrations based on the Wilcoxon test.
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