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Research has shown significant associations between urban outdoor air pollution (even at low ambient concentrations) and respiratory symptoms, reduced lung function and chronic bronchitis. In South Africa, the main sources of particulate matter in the air are motor vehicles, industries burning dirty fossil fuels (coal, fuel oil and diesel) in appliances that generally don’t have emission control devices and domestic use of highly polluting coal, wood and paraffin.
This study estimates the burden of disease attributable to urban outdoor air pollution for South Africa in 2000 using the comparative risk assessment methodology developed by the WHO. View the results. (pdf format, 1222 kb)
Read more about research and policy on environment and health in South Africa. |
