SA's silent killer: Air pollution still a top health risk
Despite having legislation in place, weak enforcement and poor monitoring continue to expose vulnerable communities to harmful air pollution, prompting experts to call for urgent action.
Air pollution / Pexels: Pixabay 60575
Nokukhanya Mntambo, in for 702's Gugs Mhlungu, spoke to Dr Sduduzo Cossa, General Practitioner at Medipark24 Medical Centre.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.
From asthma to heart disease and even newborn health, the impacts of air pollution are widespread, yet many South Africans are unaware of just how toxic their air really is.
According to Global Burden of Disease, air pollution is one of the country's top contributors to early death.
"...it exacerbates other respiratory conditions like asthma, allergic rhinitis, and also in severe cases, where maybe someone might have these conditions, that can even lead to death. So it has become a really, really, really major problem in the health sector. So we're dealing with these conditions on a daily basis and some we even fail to manage them for that matter."
- Dr Sduduzo Cossa, General Practitioner
Despite having progressive legislation like the Air Quality Act, Cossa says South Africa continues to struggle with weak enforcement and poor monitoring, particularly in low-income and informal communities.
"...I think on paper, we do have measures, but I'm just not sure of the implementation in terms of the measurements...we have about 120 air monitoring stations in South Africa, but we're not sure of the quality and the functionality of those stations..."
- Dr Sduduzo Cossa, General Practitioner
"The hotspots, to be honest, are mostly the rural areas. I think that's where we're mostly struggling. I think because we have poor air quality sensors in those areas, or maybe even the public awareness is not that optimal. I think that's where we're facing a lot of challenges. The government has tried, to be honest, in the health sector to deal with health issues in the rural areas, but I still think there's a long way to go."
- Dr Sduduzo Cossa, General Practitioner
Experts say stronger action, better data, and real accountability are urgently needed for us to breathe easier.
Scroll up to listen to the full conversation