http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/861 (5) Articles available Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:59:40 GMT 2026-04-13T15:59:40Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/996 Assessment Of Air Quality, Noise Levels And Heavy Metal Concentrations During Dry And Rainy Seasons From Industrial Areas Of Blantyre City, Malawi Utsale, Constance Chifuniro This research investigated concentration of air quality, heavy metals and noise levels from industrial areas in Blantyre City, Malawi. Air, noise, and soil samples were collected in both dry and rainy seasons at 15 industrial sites based in Makata, Limbe, Maselema, Chirimba and Maone in Blantyre. Sampling and analysis of air, noise and soil employed the use of standardized methods detailed in the American Public Health Association (APHA), Canada Standards, English Standards as well as Malawi Standards (MS). Air was analyzed for Carbon Monoxide (CO), Total Suspended Particles (TSP), Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) and Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5). Heavy metals were assessed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Soil was analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn). Noise levels were also recorded using a noise level meter. In the rainy season, the average concentration values of CO, TSP, PM10, and PM2.5 were 0.49 ± 0.65 mg/m3, 85.03 ± 62.18 μg/m3, 14.65 ± 8.13 μg/m3, and 11.52 ± 7.19 μg/m3, respectively. Dry season average concentration values increased to 1.31 ± 0.81 mg/m3, 99.86± 30.06 μg/m3, 24.35 ± 9.53 μg/m3, and 18.28 ± 7.14 μg/m3. Noise levels remained below public MS and WHO standards (85 dB). Chirimba AP had the highest mean Zn concentrations of 822 mg/kg in the rainy season and 579 mg/kg in the dry season. Maone NM had the highest Cd concentrations, measuring 2.09 mg/kg in the rainy season and 3.06 mg/kg in the dry season. Chirimba AP also had the highest Cu concentrations with levels of 105 mg/kg in the dry season and 79 mg/kg in the rainy season. The study found that the 87 % of soil sample concentrations were in line with England's stipulated standards for heavy metal concentrations, with exceptions noted in specific instances like Chirimba AP and Makata LF, where concentrations surpassed the defined limits signifying a health concern. In the rainy season, the range of soil mean pH was 6.3 - 7.83 while in the dry season it was 6.67 - 8.15. In the rainy season, the range of soil mean electrical conductivity was 24.3±0.35 μS/cm - 265±0.42 μS/cm while in the dry season it was 43.8±0.49 μS/cm - 2353±5.508 μS/cm. Source apportionment of air quality parameters as well as heavy metals showed various factors contributing to the respective concentrations. A geo-accumulation index analysis of heavy metals in soil was done to assess potential contamination risks and Zn was shown to be a major contaminant, presenting an ecological and pollution risk. The results of the source apportionment analysis using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model indicated that air and heavy metal pollution were mainly caused by (1) metal processing and manufacturing industries, (2) plastic manufacturing industries (3) cement manufacturing industries, (4) food manufacturing industries, (5) beverage manufacturing industries and (6) furniture manufacturing vii industries. It was recommended for periodic sampling be done to observe the seasonal pollution trends considering potential impacts on public health and environmental sustainability. Further studies should look at factors affecting the dynamics of PMF in Blantyre City. This will help in putting up measures that can help to control the release of pollutants and ensuring public health. A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Environmental Protection and Management Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/996 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/992 Technical And Financial Feasibility Of On-Site Tea Organic Waste Usage: A Case Of Tea Estates In Mulanje District, Malawi Mnjeza, Bedah Hygienic waste disposal poses a significant challenge in developing countries, especially those with high population densities, such as Malawi. Inadequate waste management across all types (solid, liquid, and thermal) and from diverse sources impacts various industries worldwide, including agriculture, mining, and construction. The Tea industry in Malawi faces similar challenges due to inadequate waste management practices, particularly with regards to the organic waste generated from tea factories. Lack of knowledge on utilizing this waste has led to improper disposal in dumpsites. Additionally, the high costs associated with purchasing and applying inorganic fertilizers in tea fields have prompted the need to explore alternative waste management solutions. This study specifically aimed to assess the levels of NPK nutrients in organic tea waste and examine the financial feasibility of using it onsite in Mulanje District, Southern Malawi. Samples were collected from three tea estates in Mulanje District. The technical analysis focused on determining the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content in the organic tea waste, as these are essential primary nutrients for plant growth. A financial analysis was conducted to evaluate potential cost savings if inorganic fertilizers were replaced or co-applied with organic waste. The study revealed that the average proportion of nitrogen in the organic tea waste was 3.19%, phosphorus was 0.58%, and potassium was 0.43%. These NPK nutrient contents were significantly lower than those found in chemical fertilizers (T-compound). The application rate of tea waste required to supply the same amount of nitrogen as chemical fertilizer (T-compound) was determined to be 1935 Kg/ha. Furthermore, the use of tea waste would result in total savings of 22.2% of the total cost of chemical fertilizer. The study provides evidence of the NPK nutrient levels in organic tea waste and highlights the financial feasibility of its onsite usage for tea production. To address the issue of poor waste management, it is recommended that tea factories focus on increasing the value of tea waste over time through industrial processing activities aimed at producing useful products or sources of energy, such as through reuse, recycling, or composting. By implementing these recommendations, the tea industry in Malawi can contribute positively to the country's economy while addressing environmental concerns related to waste management. Master of Science in Environmental Protection and Management Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Malawi – The Polytechnic, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Protection and Management Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/992 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/982 Assessment Of Flood Resilience Of Blantyre City Using Flood Resilience Index Tembo Chimzinga, William Greenford Floods rank the highest in frequency and impact of all natural hazards worldwide. They have to-date affected more than 2 billion people, the worst in cities owing to their high infrastructural economic values. Efforts to prevent and mitigate this challenge exist with the aim of building resilience to floods through flood risk management (FRM). The building of resilience to floods requires benchmarks in form of flood resilience metrics, which are phenomenal for efforts’ accountability and decision-making. This study was performed to assess resilience of Blantyre City in Southern Malawi to floods using flood resilience index (FRI), which employed a questionnaire and quantitative analyses. Prior to the assessment, the City’s urban dimensions were analysed using key informant interviews. In furtherance, flood resilience strategies were explored from a body of literature to highlight strategies suitable for the City’s flood risk management. Consequently, city dimensions were very low, where only 5/33-dimensional variables achieved at least 50% of best performance. The City’s FRI was at 1.97 (39.4%) representing very low flood resilience, according to FRI ratings. This showed that authorities and stakeholders such as Blantyre City Council needed to upscale their efforts to improve the City’s flood resilience. Flood resilience strategies explored from thirty-nine (39) sources turned out forty-nine (49) strategies suitable for Blantyre City, which we recommend its stakeholders to practise thereby enhancing the City’s resilience to floods. The article assesses the flood resilience of Blantyre City in Malawi using a Flood Resilience Index (FRI). It identifies that the city's resilience is very low, with only 5 out of 33 urban dimensions performing adequately. The study recommends 49 strategies from existing literature to enhance flood risk management and resilience in the city, urging local authorities to improve efforts in this area. Sat, 01 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/982 2021-05-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/891 An assessment of socio-economic background of charcoal production, trade and household use in Blantyre low income settlements Kalenga, Godfrey Wiliyati The dependence on charcoal as the major source of energy for cooking remains a hard-hitting challenge in our cities. Most of the households in Blantyre low income settlements rely on charcoal and this is being witnessed in the increases in the number of traders on charcoal, charcoal shops, as well as charcoal users in the city. This is a clear evidence that efforts to discourage charcoal business are ineffective and as a result there is much pressure on the forestry resources. The fast disappearance of trees has a number of environmental effects, one of which is the climate change, in the long run this is also affecting crop yields and deepening poverty. This report presents the findings of a study which was undertaken to examine the social- economic background of charcoal business in Blantyre urban fringe settlements. The study covered two townships, namely Ndirande and Chirimba. The selection of these townships was informed by the prevalence of hot charcoal business in those areas. In addition, these townships are among the low income settlements where most of the urban dwellers are found due to poverty and their main source of energy is charcoal; and increasing electricity tariffs seriously affect livelihoods of low-income and middle-income households majority of them being in the study areas. The researcher used both structured and unstructured questionnaires to collect data from the charcoal producers, transporters, traders and the consumers. In addition to these, Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews and Observations were employed to obtain data from the target population. Investigating the factors that influence the charcoal use, 110 charcoal users were purposively selected. Using Multiple Regressions Analysis, 5 household socio-economic factors were identified that promote the use of charcoal in the households. These are (in order of contribution) literacy, size, gender, age, and income. The study revealed that, there is relationship between the charcoal use and the five predictor variables although it is not very significant. This weak relationship was attributed to perception among the respondents that electricity is more expensive than charcoal. Although some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders have been advocating for fuel-efficient charcoal stoves with an aim of reducing charcoal consumption rates, the adoption rate among the respondents is very low. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master of Science in Environmental Protection and Management (MSc EPM) Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/891 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z