Community can help to keep the level of pollution low

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.

The World Environment Day is 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. 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 to be a source of pollution to evaluate compliance with the 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:

• Samukelo Shongwe (north region) by sending an email to Samukelo.Futshane@ekurhuleni.gov.za or contact him on 011 999 3525.

• Edmund van Wyk (south region) by sending an email to Edmund.VanWyk@ekurhuleni.gov.za or contact him on 011 999 2470.

• Flip Visser (east region) by sending an email to Flip.Visser@ekurhuleni.gov.za or contact him on 011 999 8768.

• Chris Kapp (east region) by sending an email to Chris.Kapp@ekurhuleni.gov.za or contact him on 011 999 8759.

Issued by Nhlanhla Cebekhulu (divisional head: communication and media relations)