Foul sulphide smell affects parts of Gauteng

Most parts of Gauteng have been experiencing a foul smell over the last couple of days.

Gauteng Weather issued a warning tweet on 17 February, alerting certain groups that may be affected by the unhealthy air.

⚠️ ALERT: UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY LEVEL FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS in GAUTENG WEDNESDAY, as SULPHUR STENCH CONTINUES!!!

🔴HIGH RISK GROUPS:
•Children
•Elderly
•Asthmatics
•Those with lung disease
•Those with heart disease

💡Air quality levels considered ‘OK’ for healthy adults

— Gauteng Weather (@tWeatherSA) February 17, 2021

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has described the hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) smell as smelling like rotten eggs. “The smell is more associated with petroleum refineries and other forms of refineries which has input raw materials. In the process, having hydrogen and Sulphur elements bonding to form hydrogen sulphide,” said Nozipho Hlabangana on behalf of the department.

“Refineries like petroleum are more likely to produce hydrogen sulphide which has a pungent rotten egg smell. The refineries have high tall stacks/chimneys for such emissions and most of the refineries control hydrogen sulphide by using flaring or catalytic flame control burners installed in the stack burning 24 hours while the operation is in progress,” explained Hlabangana.

According to the department, the rain we have been experiencing over the last three weeks have also played the role in the smell. “Weather conditions play a pivotal role in the atmosphere, for the last two or three weeks the rain has been too much and, to a certain extent, water droplets affected the flaring mechanism by lowering the flame efficiency and lowering the temperature around the stack which more likely to cause more of hydrogen sulphide get uncracked into the atmosphere.”

“The smell would be gone for now but depending on the weather conditions. If another inversion and cyclone are experienced again, the smell might come again. It is the conditions of atmospheric science and chemistry,” Hlabangana concluded.

Twitter users are outraged about the smell and have highlighted certain health effects like shortness of breath, sinuses, watery eyes etc.

@tumisole since last week been checking my drain thought I had a blockage.
Last night when i looked out the window ,it was dusty/misty the smell was too much, i knew there was something wrong.
🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢

We going to get sick i tell u.

— Motanyane (@MathumetseMj) February 17, 2021

It’s worse!! My chest is tight
Healthy and fit as I am 😖 😷

— Ratu Rato 🇿🇦 (@LeratoMangena2) February 17, 2021

I barely slept the night before. It was bad😩😩😩😩😩 n had a headache that didnt go away

— GORGIAS (@BeauVisage26) February 17, 2021

Let us know on our social media pages some of the health effects you are currently experiencing due to the foul sulphur smell in the air.