New statistics released in parliament show that 118 mines around south africa are polluting rivers, inadequately testing for contamination or otherwise dirtying south africa s waterways. Air pollution kills 20 000 people in south africa every year, costing the economy nearly r300million. The impact of an unhealthy environment on human health in. The south african journal of science is a multidisciplinary journal published bimonthly by the academy of science of south africa. The atmosphere is the earths largest single shared resource, which protects and supports life through the absorption of dangerous. South africa indoor air quality issues household fuel burning most significant local air pollution problem range of fuels cost of fuels poor ventilation and bad thermal efficiencies asbestos mining stopped in 20002001 fibre stockpiles depleted 2003 for export despite mining ceased still have asbestos exposure.
Air pollution is not just a health risk but also a drag on development. Light pollution, the environment and climate change. However, in the 2016 update, a new addition has overtaken joburgs economic capital to claim the top spot. South africa s groundwater resources currently supply abo ut % of the total volume of water consumed nationally. Although irrigation is the largest user of groundwater. Aug 18, 2018 in 20, joburg, being the most populated urban region in the country was unsurprisingly ranked as having the most polluted air. Environmental health affiliated with the international federation of environmental health serves as their professional organisation. The impact of an unhealthy environment on human health in south africa a healthy society and productive workforce play an important role in longterm economic growth and sustainable development. Developing countries like south africa have a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, resulting in productivity losses and mortality due to high concentrations of air pollution, namely, fine particulate matter pm. Noise pollution your rights as a neighbour and polluter 20 march 20 by by alan straton 8 comments a recent incident of noise pollution in our neighbourhood led me to do some research on this emotive issue. The report suggests that the primary sources of water pollution are untreated or partially treated effluents from municipal, industrial and mining wastewater discharges.
The republic of south africa, along with the republic of senegal is a leading example for africa, for being the country with the most transparency on its air quality. National river ecosystem accounts for south africa i discussion document, october 2015 preface south africa is one of seven pilot countries involved in a global initiative called advancing seea experimental 1ecosystem accounting, led by the united nations statistics division unsd in. Water pollution in south africa and its public health impact. Biodegradable, compostable plastic carrier and food bags will begin trending in south africa before the. Government is worried about alarmingly high levels of air. The paper sets out the vision for south african transport as.
Sa air pollution an environmental threat yadhana jadoo smoke billows from a coalfired power plant in gelsenkirchen, western germany, on january 16, 2012. In south africa, outdoor and indoor air pollution continues to be perceived as a serious problem, with emissions for. Air pollution and atmosphere united nations, new york may 2007 mr. Paper 2010 for south africa recommends the use of marketbased instruments, specifically carbon taxes, to induce behavioural changes that contribute to lower ghg emissions. The monitoring and assessment of the quality of water resources is critically important for the determination of their fitnessforuse for various water use sectors. Impacts of air pollution iv epithelial cells epithelium is a tissue composed of a layer of cells. The white paper on national transport policy provides the south africas formal transport policy document. Yet avoidable environmental hazards are placing an unnecessary burden on the countrys productive workforce in terms of days lost due to. Air pollution in dense lowincome settlements in south africa poses numerous challenges. According to the united nations convention on climate change on south africa in 2000, the water around africa is unevenly distributed, meaning that 60% of the water is situated in only 20% of the land. For south africa eugene cairncross1 juanette john2, and mark zunckel3 1peninsula technikon, box 1906, bellville, 7535 2csirenvironmentek, po box 395, pretoria, 0001 3 csir environmentek, p o box 17001, congella 40, south africa abstract the dynamic air pollution prediction system dapps involves the development and. Drivers of air pollution in south africa session 3. Users may apply or process this data, provided statistics south africa stats sa is.
The role of the environmental health research network. South africa 2010 59 water water south africa can be proud of the strides achieved in the design and development sector, which enabled the country to successfully host the world cup whilst minimising the associated demand for freshwater resource. The two major types of pollution in south africa are air and marine pollution. To be a system that will provide safe, reliable, effective, efficient, and fully integrated transport operations and infrastructure which will best meet the needs of. The industrial sector is the prime contributor to air pollution. Result of survey about air pollution, water pollution, greens and parks satisfaction, light and noise pollution, etc. In order to do so it presents an overview of south africa and its associated constitutional, economic and social characteristics. The role of such instruments to address climate change and support sustainable development has gained increased prominence in recent years. Small plastic pollution on south african beaches comes from. The key problems highlighted are global warming and climate variability, loss of. Na tional river ecosystem accounts for so uth africa discuss. South african statement to the 15 th session of the commission for sustainable development theme. Track changes publication series 4 book 5 impacts of.
Hartebeespoort is not an obvious candidate for worst air pollution in south africa. Chairman, south africa aligns itself with the statement made by pakistan on behalf of. Pdf an overview of environmental issues in southern africa. Jan 05, 2011 light pollution, the environment and climate change by admin on january 5, 2011 in environmental issues, environmental problems, light pollution, pollution the issue of light pollution sprang to mind again tonight after reading about some cosmic events id really like to see. Current aqm tools used in south africa ambient air quality standards covers the priority pollutants so 2, no 2, o 3, pb, c6h6, co and pm 10 pm 2. Estimation of pollution in south africa, using perception. This paper provides an overview of some of the significant environmental problems in the southern african region.
We have privately presented to, discussed and iterated this report in private audiences with the south african government, some of south africas top political. Presentation scope international trends us, uk, eu and china what are the air pollution drives in south africa. Government is worried about alarmingly high levels of air pollution in these south african towns. Epithelium lines both the outside skin and the inside e.
The survey was conducted by statistics south africa stats sa from january to. Air pollution kills 20 000 per year in south africa as many. Challenging times for environmental health in south africa. The uneven distribution of natural resources and the location of economic development nodes in south africa amplify the management constraints and inequality of access to these resources.
Rapid urbanisation is contributing to a deterioration in south africa s water quality, department of water and sanitation water quality planning scientific manager pieter viljoen said on wednesday. Worst air pollution in south africa environment news south. Many water quality studies conducted in south africa revealed that this problem contributes to the pollution of. Practical considerations in the implementation of emissions. This is according to new research from the world bank. Annexure health impacts of coal fired generation in south.
The main objective of this study was to explore the economic impact of air pollution in two townships of mangaung metro municipality. Pm is the main pollutant of concern in south africa, but eskoms activities make only a small concentration to total ambient levels eskom is a major source of no x on the highveld, but modelling and monitoring show that there is compliance with ambient no x limits everywhere in eskoms area of influence 20121119 9. Water supply and sanitation in south africa one of southern africa s biggest issues is the lack of clean water. More than 90% of south africa s electricity is generated from the combustion of coal that contains approximately 1. How are these drivertrends influencing emission trends. Published by statistics south africa, private bag x44. All countries face threats to their water security from pollution, growing demands. In south africa, the number of regions that track air pollution have increased and been added to the database read the full article here in 20, joburg, being the most populated urban region in the country was unsurprisingly ranked as having the most polluted air. Vulnerability of south african communities to air pollution. Wwf south africa has a particular focus on freshwater, and aims to help build water security in south africa, with healthy catchments sustaining people and nature, and supporting economic development in a time of climate change. Sep 12, 2016 air pollution kills 20 000 people in south africa every year, costing the economy nearly r300million. The study was conducted in phahameng and rocklands areas. Statistics south africa i preface this discussion document contains water quality accounts for south africa for the reference year 2000. Sa air pollution an environmental threat the citizen.
Air pollution kills 20 000 per year in south africa as. According to gdard, 2011 more than 55% of gautengs natural habitat has been lost with only 798,397 ha of natural and seminatural land remaining in a highly fragmented state due urbanisation. South africa statement air pollution united nations. Chapter 10 air quality department of environmental affairs. Cost of air pollution in africa cost of air pollution in african cities can be as high as 2. This report by the law library of congress provides information on the regulation of air pollution in australia, brazil, canada, china, european union, france, israel, japan, south africa, switzerland, and the. Summary this report provides estimates of the health impacts and associated economic costs of current emissions of air pollutants from coal fired power stations in south africa. Analysis of water pollution control laws in south africa article in mediterranean journal of social sciences 523 november 2014 with 23 reads how we measure reads. South africa is considered a foodsecure nation, producing enough calories to. Water pollution in south africa by jan lynzaad november 5, 2018 the pollution of rivers, lakes, and aquifers from domestic and industrial wastewater discharges, mining runoff, agrochemicals and other sources is now a growing threat to water resources in most countries in south africa. Most often it is forgotten that the land we live in forms part of our environment, together with the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Chapter strives to conduct a critical legal appraisal 01 the south african regulatory framework pertaining to lbmp. Urbanisation, pollution a threat to south africas water. Small plastic pollution on south african beaches comes from local sources uct study a study of the small plastic fragments on south africas beaches repeated every 10 years since the mid1990s has found that most plastic pollution derives from local sources. The water pollution in south africa has affected water quality and impacted negatively on public health and functioning of ecosystems including the rising cost of water treatment. Investigating the journalists and their practices and views, the study finds that there is a significant divide between the reporters who have the environment as their beat interest. The air quality monitoring network coverage is really good, and all the information is available publically and freely from the. The community structure of the benthic meiofauna of the swartkops estuary, with special reference to nematodes, was investigated in relation to contaminants in the estuary 15.
843 1109 344 1136 1021 226 1127 814 1301 652 489 1498 613 1134 1290 374 120 703 174 238 1097 904 331 688 1196 248 200 290 303 1400 397 512 890 617 1375 803 977 1112