scholarly journals The impacts of commissioning coal-fired power stations on air quality in South Africa: insights from ambient monitoring stations

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Itumeleng P. Morosele ◽  
Kristy E. Langerman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Monitoring Station ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Power Station ◽  
Power Stations ◽  
Ambient Pollution ◽  
Pollution Concentrations ◽  
Monitoring Stations

The South African electricity sector is known for its heavy reliance on coal. The aim of this study is to assess the impacts of increasing SO2 and PM emissions from the three return-to-service power stations (Komati, Camden and Grootvlei), and the newly constructed Medupi power station on ambient air quality measured in the vicinities of these power stations. Trends in ambient pollution concentrations were determined using Theil-Sen analysis. The correlation between the emissions and ambient pollution concentrations at nearby monitoring stations was determined with the Spearman partial rank correlation coefficient.  Lastly, compliance of ambient pollution concentrations with the South Africa National Ambient Air Quality Standards was assessed. Few statistically significant trends in ambient SO2 and PM10 concentrations are found, and there is little correlation between increasing power station emissions and ambient pollutant concentrations in the vicinity. It is only at Camden monitoring station where there are increases in PM10 concentrations from the direction of Camden power station, and at Grootvlei monitoring station where increasing SO2 concentrations are from the directions of Grootvlei and Lethabo power stations. A strong, positive correlation between power station emissions and ambient concentrations exists only for SO2 at Grootvlei monitoring station and PM10 at Medupi monitoring station (although it is likely that the correlation at Medupi is related to construction and vehicle activity, and not emissions from Medupi power station stacks). It is concluded that the establishment of monitoring stations in the vicinities of power stations is necessary but not sufficient to monitor their impact on air quality in the surrounds.

scholarly journals Ambient air quality data reported at Sasol Secunda monitoring stations during COVID-19 lockdown – Mpumalanga, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Venter ◽  
Sandra De Vos
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Human Behaviour ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Industrial Facilities ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Pollutant Concentrations ◽  
Monitoring Stations

Various local and international research has been published on the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on ambient air quality. In most cases, a reduction in ambient NOx and PM concentrations have been observed with varying changes in ambient SO2 levels. Secunda, located in the Highveld Priority Area in Mpumalanga, South Africa is known for its large industrial facilities utilising coal as primary feedstock. The towns of Secunda and eMbalenhle provide the majority of the workforce to Sasol and has therefore been the focus of this study. The ambient air quality in the Secunda region was assessed due to the changes in human behaviour during lockdown, familiarity with the Sasol facility and the strategic locations of ambient air quality stations.Results show a clear decrease in ambient CO, NO2 and PM concentrations, especially during the first two weeks of lockdown. Only subtle changes were observed for ambient H2S and SO2 pollutant concentrations at the ambient monitoring stations. An increasing trend in all ambient species was observed towards the end and post lockdown, in contrast to declining ambient temperatures with the onset of winter. This is also contrary to the reduction in emissions from the factory that conducted annual maintenance in the month following lockdown (phase shutdown). This article concludes that human behaviour has a material local ambient impact on CO, NO2 and PM pollutant species, while H2S concentration profiles are more directly related to the industrial complex’s levels of activity. Ambient SO2 trends did not show a similar correlation with the facility’s activities (as H2S), but a stronger correlation was observed with the diverse local and regional sources in close proximity to Secunda and eMbalenhle. The influence of better dispersion especially on a local scale, brought about by more effective emission heights, is considered material. Moreover, meteorological factors, on local air quality, has been shown to be a material contributor to observed ambient air quality levels in the study domain

scholarly journals Air quality indicators from the Environmental Performance Index: potential use and limitations in South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
RM Garland ◽  
M Naidoo ◽  
B Sibiya ◽  
R Oosthuizen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Performance Index ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Source Data ◽  
Potential Use

In responding to deteriorating air quality, many countries, including South Africa, have implemented national programmes that aim to manage and regulate ambient air quality, and the emissions of air pollutants. One aspect within these management strategies is effective communication to stakeholders, including the general public, with regard to the state and trend of ambient air quality in South Africa. Currently, information on ambient air quality is communicated through ambient mass concentration values, as well as number of exceedances of South African National Ambient Standards. However, these do not directly communicate the potential impact on human health and the ecosystem. To this end, the use of air quality indicators is seen as a potential way to achieve communication to stakeholders in a simplified, yet scientifically defensible manner. Air quality indicators and their source data from the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) were interrogated to understand their potential use in South Africa. An assessment of four air quality indicators, together with their source data, showed improvements in air quality over the time period studied, though the input data do have uncertainties. The source data for the PM indicators, which came from a global dataset, underestimated the annual PM2.5 concentrations in the Highveld Priority Area and Vaal Triangle Airshed Priority Area over the time period studied (2009-2014) by ~3.7 times. This highlights a key limitation of national-scale indicators and input data, that while the data used by the EPI are a well-thought out estimate of a country’s air quality profile, they remain a generalised estimate. The assumptions and uncertainty inherent in such an ambitious global-wide attempt make the estimates inaccurate for countries without proper emissions tracking and accounting and few monitoring stations, such as South Africa. Thus, the inputs and resultant indicators should be used with caution until such a time that local and ground-truthed data and inputs can be utilised.

scholarly journals Assessment of ambient air pollution in the Waterberg Priority Area 2012-2015

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.T. Feig ◽  
S. Naidoo ◽  
N. Ncgukana
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Local Source ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Priority Area ◽  
Hourly Data ◽  
Ambient Concentrations ◽  
Monitoring Stations

The Waterberg Priority Area ambient air quality monitoring network was established in 2012 to monitor the ambient air quality in the Waterberg Air Quality Priority Area. Three monitoring stations were established in Lephalale, Thabazimbi and Mokopane. The monitoring stations measure the concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NOx, CO, O3, BTEX and meteorological parameters. Hourly data for a 31 month period (October 2012-April 2015) was obtained from the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) and analysed to assess patterns in atmospheric concentrations, including seasonal and diurnal patterns of the ambient concentrations and to assess the impacts that such reported pollution concentration may have. Local source regions for SO2, PM10, PM2.5 and O3 were identified and trends in the recorded concentrations are discussed.

scholarly journals Discrimination in Ambient Air Pollution Monitoring?

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 277-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corbett Grainger ◽  
Andrew Schreiber
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Strategic Behavior ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Air Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Ambient Pollution

In the United States, ambient air quality is regulated through National Ambient Air Quality standards (NAAQS). Enforcement of these standards is delegated to state and sub-state regulators who are also tasked with designing their own monitoring networks for ambient pollution. Past work has found evidence consistent with strategic behavior: local regulators strategically avoid pollution hotspots when siting monitors. This paper assesses whether income and race have historically played a role in monitor siting decisions.

scholarly journals Association of Ambient Air Quality with Male’s Pulmonary Function in Kolkata City, India

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-28
Author(s):  
P Chatterjee ◽  
P Das
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Ambient Air Quality ◽  
Metropolitan Cities ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring Stations ◽  
Monitoring Stations

Background Kolkata is one of the polluted metropolitan cities in India where health effects of air pollution are raising serious concern.Objectives Purpose of the present study was to analyze association between levels of air pollutants and pulmonary function of adult males living in two different air pollutant zones of Kolkata.Methods Air pollution data of two ambient air quality monitoring stations located at Rabindrabharati and Victoria Memorial was collected from West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Kolkata for the period from January to March 2012. Study was conducted on 200 males (17-22 yrs), subdivided into two groups from living within 3 km radius of that two monitoring stations. They were investigated for their spirometric lung functions following method and technique recommended by American Thoracic Society. Results were expressed as mean ± SD and independent samples T test was conducted to compare between groups.Results PM10, SO2 concentrations were significantly higher in Rabindrabharati zone, whereas no significant differences were noted in NO2 and CO concentrations though values were higher at Rabindrabharati than Victoria Memorial. FVC, FEV1 , FEF25-75%, MVV were significantly lower in males of Rabindrabharati zone.Conclusion Exposure to high air pollutant concentration might be associated with reduced pulmonary function in adult males.Kathmandu University Medical Journal Vol.13(1) 2015; 24-28

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