Poor air quality is commonly known for its contribution to, among others, respiratory and cardiac diseases.
According to the World Health Organisation poor air quality kills people – causing an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths in 2016.
World Environment Day was celebrated on June 5, under the theme “Beat Air Pollution”.
The City of Ekurhuleni being an industrial hub, has deployed 10 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations across the city to identify sources of potential harmful emissions.
Waste is also one of the many contributors to air pollution.
Read: Cigarette butts are a bigger pollution problem than plastic straws
The toxic substances in air contaminated by waste include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane.
With the approaching winter season, residents are encouraged to think twice before burning any rubble as it also directly adds to the pollution.
Where sources of air pollution are identified, the city dispatches air quality practitioners to the premises suspected as sources to evaluate compliance with air quality standards.
The standards prescribe the acceptable level of pollutants that cannot be exceeded during a given time in a defined area.
The community can get involved by reporting any air pollution, or odour problems in their area to the following air quality practitioners in their areas for intervention:
East Region:
- Flip Visser: Flip.Visser@ekurhuleni.gov.za or 011 999 8768
- Chris Kapp: Chris.Kapp@ekurhuleni.gov.za or 011 999 8759
Also read: The insatiable desire to be fashionable has created the second largest polluter in the world
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