South Africa has been identified as one of the countries most affected by human health implications and exacerbated climate impacts caused by nitrogen dioxide emissions, along with Egypt and Nigeria.
This is according to a report titled ‘Major Air Polluters in Africa Unmasked’, prepared by Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace MENA (Middle East and North Africa).
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In addition, the report has also stated that nine of the world’s ten largest nitrogen dioxide point sources, as well as two of the world’s ten largest sulphur dioxide emission hotspots, are located in South Africa.
Of the ten largest sulphur dioxide point sources in the African continent, four power plants are in South Africa.
The report has also identified the Mpumalanga region of South Africa that ‘stands out globally for its air pollutant emissions’, and urges that the South African Government implement the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan.
Dr Aidan Farrow, senior scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories, has stated that a lack of air quality monitoring has allowed pollution to remain hidden in ‘many parts of Africa’, as reported by IOL.
‘However, there is abundant evidence that African nations face a serious public health crisis from air pollution,’ said Farrow.
The report that claims that air pollution exposure is ‘the second leading risk factor for death in Africa,’ with up to 1.1 million premature deaths each year attributed to it, supports Farrow’s claims.
Health impact studies have also suggested that life expectancy could be extended by up to three years in African nations if WHO air quality guidelines were met.
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