Ethiopia: NASA Study Finds Black Carbon Pollution in Addis Abeba Far Higher Than in 3 U.S. Cities

What the report says

A NASA-funded study reported by Addis Standard and distributed by AllAfrica says black carbon pollution in Addis Abeba was far higher than in three U.S. cities monitored under the same mission. The average concentration in the Ethiopian capital was roughly four to nine times the levels measured in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Boston, according to the study, which used data collected from 2022 to 2025 at 10 air-quality sites in Addis Abeba.

Black carbon, or soot, comes from incomplete combustion, including diesel traffic, fires and other fuel burning. The study found that pollution in Addis Abeba changed by time of day and season, with higher levels linked to rush-hour traffic and combustion activity. It also detected spikes during two major Ethiopian holidays involving traditional bonfires, and researchers said they could separate fire-related particles from those tied to fossil fuels.

The report said Addis Abeba’s three-year average PM2.5 concentration was 30 micrograms per cubic metre, more than three times the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s annual health-based standard. A co-author described the work as the first long-term, multisite continuous measurement of PM2.5 and black carbon in Ethiopia, while another said emissions remain significant even at night because of charcoal and other fuel use.

The findings come as Ethiopia and Addis Abeba have begun taking steps to improve air quality, including vehicle policy changes and expanded electric-vehicle and bicycle infrastructure. NASA’s MAIA project is also tracking pollution in other cities worldwide, with satellite-based observations still planned for later this decade.