SA's hotspots for deadly air pollution

The Highveld, Vaal Triangle and Waterberg- Bojanala areas linked to higher rates of respiratory disease and TB

- Sheree Bega

Dying to breathe: Many of the priority areas exceeded South Africa's national ambient air quality standards, often in regions with high concentrations of vulnerable people. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

(Delwyn Verasamy)

Air pollution is contributing to higher rates of respiratory disease and tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa's three declared air pollution priority areas, with children, youth and older adults facing the greatest risks, a new epidemiological study has revealed.

Scientists from the South African Medical Research Council on Tuesday presented the findings of their multi-site study conducted across the Highveld Priority Area (HPA), the Vaal Triangle Priority Area (VTPA) and the Waterberg-Bojanala Priority Area (WBPA).

The research, funded by the Clean Air Fund, examined the association between ambient (outdoor) air pollution and mortality and morbidity across the country's most industrialised regions.

The HPA includes Sedibeng and Gert Sibande, the VTPA covers Nkangala and Fezile Dabi and the WBPA comprises the Waterberg and Bojanala districts.

The regions host coal-fired power stations, smelters, petrochemical plants and refineries alongside urban and peri-urban communities.

They were all designated based on elevated pollutant concentrations and significant population exposure.

Presenting the findings, professor Caradee Wright, the chief specialist scientist at the MRC's environment and health research unit, said pollution levels in many of the priority areas exceeded South Africa's national ambient air quality standards, often in regions with high concentrations of vulnerable people.