NASA study reveals high black carbon levels in Addis Ababa

A NASA-funded study using the Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) project has provided a detailed analysis of air quality in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between 2022 and 2025. The research reveals that the city’s three-year average PM2.5 concentration was 30 micrograms per cubic meter, which is more than three times the annual health-based standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Specifically, the study found that black carbon levels—fine soot produced by diesel vehicles, fires, and other combustion sources—were four to nine times higher in Addis Ababa than in the three U.S. metropolitan areas monitored by the mission: Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Boston. Pollution levels fluctuate based on seasonal changes, rush-hour traffic, and cultural celebrations.

Researchers noted that while traffic causes daytime surges, nocturnal emissions remain high due to widespread household reliance on charcoal and other solid fuels for biomass burning. This data provides a baseline for Ethiopia as it implements new policies, including a 2024 ban on importing internal combustion engine vehicles and the expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure.