International Programs

Under the Sub-Saharan Africa Program, EPA focuses on urban and industrial pollution issues as they impact people’s health, particularly vulnerable populations such as children and the poor. Now is a critical time in Africa’s development to address these pollution issues. With support from US AID and the US State Department, EPA is implementing projects to enable governments, universities, industry, non-governmental organizations and others to begin to address growing pollution issues and their consequent impacts on people’s health.

• EPA is a leader in building capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa on urban air quality management, based on the pilot work conducted in South Africa, Ghana and Tanzania. This work includes establishing air quality monitoring systems, and institutionalizing air quality training courses developed by EPA and tailored for the region.

• As a key partner within the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles , EPA was involved in providing support to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in phasing out of leaded gasoline which occurred throughout the region in January 2006.
• Building on this success, EPA is working through the Partnership to support Sub-Saharan African countries to lower sulfur in fuels. Currently in SSA sulfur levels range between 3,000 to 10,000 ppm which, particularly in diesel fuel, results in the emission of high levels of fine particulates which can be inhaled deep into the lungs causing cardiovascular and respiratory disease.
• SSA countries have now committed to reducing sulfur levels ultimately to 50 ppm, while at the same time promoting the use of vehicle emission technology. EPA is assisting in the effort by providing funding, technical and policy advice and public outreach information to achieve this ultimate goal.

• EPA is working in Senegal to reduce the use and release of mercury in the artisanal gold mining sector, under the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Global Mercury Partnerships program. The approximately 10,000 artisanal miners in Senegal use mercury to amalgamate fine gold particles; this mercury is then burned off, resulting in significant exposures via inhalation to miners and their families. The next phase will focus on replicating this program in the eight other West African countries with similar artisanal mining practices.

• Under the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA), EPA is working to reduce the negative health impacts of indoor air pollution for the more than 75% of Africans who burn wood, charcoal, dung, crop residue and coal for their home cooking and (in some places) heating. The EPA is managing pilot projects in Mauritania, Nigeria, and Uganda that are jointly funded by the USAID and EPA.