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With ongoing load shedding, crime and dodgy political shenanigans, we’ve got plenty to worry about in South Africa. Unfortunately there’s one more pesky issue that’s been thrown into the mix: air pollution.

It’s getting harder to ignore the realities of air quality in our cities as the effects of climate change become more dangerous globally.

On Friday, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Marcos Orellana, dropped a bombshell SA as rankings were announced via IQAir for the Air Quality Index (AQI) in various cities.

It’s not looking so fresh in Jozi.

Orellana’s preliminary findings show that our country’s air pollution is largely attributed to coal-generated electricity plants and mining, with coal accounting for 90% of electricity generation. Coal is a hot topic for the energy crisis in SA, but it seems like it’s not just corruption that we need to be concerned about.

A study estimated that air pollution in SA contributes to 2 239 deaths and 9 500 cases of bronchitis annually. That’s worrying data, considering the SA government’s goal is to get more coal-powered plants and mines up and running.

Orellana has identified a stark enforcement gap when it comes to our country’s constitutional rights and pollution regulations.

“I am perplexed that the government is licensing new coal projects and coal mines, coal-powered power plants and offshore oil and gas projects,” the UN rep bluntly said.

In Johannesburg, air quality presents a growing concern. While Egoli does not rank as having the world’s worst air (phew),  the city remains at a scary level when it comes to the amount of pollutants flying around.

 

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According to IQAir, Johannesburg’s air quality measurement is 2.6 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual guideline value. The city’s poor air quality underscores the global issue of air pollution, identified by the WHO as a significant environmental risk leading to non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

The WHO estimates that seven million premature deaths occur annually due to indoor and outdoor air pollution. And it’s not just coal that’s to blame; air pollutants, including fine particles like PM2.5 and PM10, arise from various sources including industrial activities and traffic exhausts. As a deadly invisible advisory, high air pollution poses a potent risk, particularly for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and the sick.

“It [air pollution] can come from many sources, for example household fuel burning, industrial chimneys, traffic exhausts, power generation, open burning of waste, agricultural practices [and] desert dust,” the WHO explains.

Despite South Africa’s challenges, Dr. Raeesa Moolla, a specialist in air quality issues, highlights the need for collective action. She noted that air pollution’s adverse effects extend beyond immediate health concerns, impacting the environment, water quality, and overall well-being.

It’s not just bronchitis we have to be worried about, but the future we are leaving for the next generation. Dr. Moolla underlined the seriousness of the situation:

“We don’t have the highest air pollution in the world, but [Johannesburg] is probably the worst in Africa, mostly because of our coal power and mines … Every year, there are articles about a sulphur smell [in Johannesburg]. This happens when the wind changes. People make a noise about it, but then the news dies down. People need to make a bigger noise about it.”

As the IQAir live city pollution ranking was released on Friday, Joburg came in at 26th (out of 100) cities on the worst air quality ranking, with an AQI of 72.

Check out how we can understand the situation better by using the AQI measurements below:

The AQI key is:

0-50 – Good
51-100 – Moderate
101-150 – Unhealthy
151-200 – Very unhealthy
301+ – Hazardous.

The top 10 most polluted major cities:

Beijing, China – AQI 155
Doha, Qatar – 154
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 153
Hanoi, Vietnam – 145
Dhaka, Bangladesh – 139
Jakarta, Indonesia – 132
Kuwait City, Kuwait – 127
Shanghai, China – 127
Karachi, Pakistan – 113
Kathmandu, Nepal – 108

[source:news24]