SPECIAL FEATURE: Environmentalist, metro have their say

Environmentalist Nicole Barlow

What do you think are some of the contributing factors to the poor air quality in Benoni?
“The air quality in the East Rand region is notably low, primarily due to the significant presence of heavy and polluting industries.

Why Benoni stands out could be attributed to local companies.

“During my tenure as chairperson of the Environment and Conservation Association, we frequently lodged
complaints against a Dunswart company with the Green Scorpions under the National Department of Environment, citing consistent violations of the Air Quality Act of 2004.

“Despite the company’s persistent emission of harmful fumes, no effective action was taken to enforce compliance
with the law.

“Another major factor is the proliferation of petrol stations. Benoni has one of the highest concentrations of fuel filling stations, and they are a major contributor to negative air quality.

“Rapid urbanisation has increased the number of vehicles, which increases the number of petrol filling stations. The petrol filling process releases many emissions that severely affect air quality and people’s health. It is based on the fact that the ratio of the concentrations of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants in the air of the petrol stations and their surroundings (basically determined by vapour emissions from unburnt gasoline) differs from the ratio found in urban air, which is influenced mainly by traffic emissions.

“Fuel handling and storage at petrol stations can lead to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. These VOCs can react with other pollutants in the air to form groundlevel ozone, which is a major component of smog and can have adverse effects on respiratory health.”

What are the long-term repercussions if this problem is not dealt with soon?
“In a nutshell, catastrophic for the environment and human health. Ambient air pollution is increasing across Africa.

“Without deliberate intervention, it will increase morbidity and mortality, diminish economic productivity, impair
human capital formation and undercut development.

“Evidence suggests that respiratory illness is increasing in SA. One study found that about 5% more children and
adolescents suffered from asthma in 2002 than in 1995. One of the primary causes of this increase in respiratory symptoms is poor air quality.

“Places with higher levels of air pollution had more lung cancers not caused by smoking. This is because breathing in PM2.5 leads to the release of a chemical alarm – interleukin-1-beta – in the lungs, causing inflammation and activating cells in the lungs to help repair any damage. In SA, around one in every 600 000 cells in the lungs of a 50-year-old already contains potentially cancerous mutations.”

For environmental sustainability, what measures can residents take to play their part?
“To be brutally honest, there is not much we can do on our own. In SA, we cannot significantly cut down on car journeys and cannot walk or cycle anywhere because of how dangerous it is.

“We cannot change energy suppliers and reduce our energy consumption – the government is already doing that through load-shedding and blackouts. Most people cannot afford to install solar.

“People can support clean air legislation. However, there is not one functioning government department that can enforce the legislation we already have.

“Without decisive action to address these issues, Benoni, along with the entirety of SA, risks ranking among
the top 10 globally for various adverse environmental indicators.”

City of Ekurhuleni
According to metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, all industries in the Benoni area are regulated under Section 21 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act and should comply with the minimum emission standards, as prescribed in GN893 of November 20, 2013, as amended.

“All listed activities in terms of Section 21 of Air Quality are licensed through the Atmospheric Emission Licensing. These industries submit their stack emission and dust reports per their licence conditions. Their reports are compliant with the set standards.

“We have an ambient air monitoring station in Wattville that covers the Benoni area. We are monitoring particulate matter 10 and 2.5 sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogendioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO).

These are priority pollutants measured and validated in our stations. The results indicated they are below the set ambient air quality standards.”

Dlamini said the municipality has a dedicated division that ensures environmental compliance.

“The city has more than 20 appointed and designated environmental management inspectors. It has environmental forums established at ward-based levels that engage communities on a sustainable environment.”

He concluded, saying residents are urged to take responsibility in their areas by promoting recycling, not dumping illegally, littering or burning tyres illegally.

He also asked that they report sewerage spills and water leaks.

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