This is according to National Air Quality Officer Thuli Mdluli, who was speaking at a media briefing recently.
This she says can be attributed to the fact that there are many sources of pollution, such as industry and mining, domestic coal burning, dust, and smoke emissions coming from vehicles.
An air quality index (AQI) is a number used by government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air is or how polluted it is forecast to become.
Ekurhuleni fall within the Highveld Priority Area, one of three national air quality priority areas identified by the Department of Environmental Affairs.
Priority areas are declared where ambient air quality standards are being exceeded, or where the environmental affairs minister or MEC reasonably believes this could be the case.
Mduli says to date three priority areas have been declared and that action is underway to address the problems. – @TumeloBoksburg
